The multiactivity paradigm in rapid prototyping of embedded systems.

Abstract

As our society experiences faster and faster rates of progress, technology becomes available to solve the most complicated engineering problems. These new technologies allow to build much more complex systems than what current methodologies allow to design in an orderly and structured manner, which is necessary to permit easy system expansions, upgrading and maintenance. This is particularly true in the case of embedded and real-time systems, which have to exhibit correct functional and temporal behaviors. This thesis focuses on a design methodology for embedded systems that is intended to be used by the application specialists, instead of the computer specialists. This avoids the problems generated when interactions are necessary between the two specialists and when the design is done by those who are unfamiliar with the application, lacking detailed knowledge of the system requirements. The methodology is based on the multiactivity paradigm and uses two system prototypes: the Specification Prototype, which is a prototype of the behavioral and functional requirements specifications; and the Design Prototype, which is a prototype of the design specifications and can be used to observe its temporal characteristics, to see whether the system will meet the required timing constraints. Finally, the methodology is exemplified and its feasibility demonstrated through various tests that were run using a simulator.