A real-time virtual machine for task placement in loosely-coupled computer systems

Mohamed O Elsedfy,Wael A Murtada,Ezz F Abdulqawi,Mahmoud Gad-Allah

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01998

Abstract

Nowadays, virtualization and real-time systems are increasingly relevant. Real-time virtual machines are adequate for closely-coupled computer systems, execute tasks from associated language only and re-target tasks to the new platform at runtime. Complex systems in space, avionics, and military applications usually operate with Loosely-Coupled Computer Systems in a real-time environment for years. In this paper, a new approach is introduced to support task transfer between loosely-coupled computers in a real-time environment to add more features without software upgrading. The approach is based on automatic source code transformation into a platform-independent “Structured Byte-Code” (SBC) and a real-time virtual machine (SBC-RVM). Unlike Ordinary virtual machines which virtualize a specific processor for a specific code only, SBC-RVM transforms source code from any language with a known grammar into SBC without re-targeting the new platform. SBC-RVM executes local or placed tasks and preserving real-time constraints and adequate for Loosely-coupled computer systems.

Highlights

Complex real-time systems; such as satellites, nuclear power plants, military, and aerospace control systems, are designed for long-term operations and strict timing requirements
The first one is to prove the concept of Structured Byte-Code” (SBC) versus original code in terms of performance and results' correctness [27]
The second one is to realize the concept of task placement support on the loosely-coupled network using SBC Real-time Virtual Machine (SBC-RVM) to measure its applicable potential on such complex systems

Summary

Introduction

Complex real-time systems; such as satellites, nuclear power plants, military, and aerospace control systems, are designed for long-term operations and strict timing requirements. The communication was lost with Hitomi when an in-orbit software update was being uploaded [1] This kind of systems are characterized by reliability, predictability, and heritage of operation, whereas they do not rely on the fast progress at integrated circuits speed, novel processors architectures and the number of cores. The software for such systems is designed for a specific platform to achieve the desired parameters such as frequency, priority, worst-case execution time, bounded jitter, energy, and cost

Methods

Results

Conclusion