Dynamic Resource Management Algorithm for a Distributed Real-time System

Abstract

In paper we propose a framework and algorithm for dynamic resource management in a distributed real-time system. Our assumptions are as follows: first, multiple real-time & non real-time processes are active throughout the system. Those processes in the critical path for a given task, i.e., autopilot, fire control (as in firing weapons), surveillance, collaborative planning, are RT for the duration of the task and may or may not be party to multiple tasks in either critical or ancillary capacities. For instance, the radar may be part of the critical path during surveillance, but have uses other than that, say to take a snampshot during a collaborative planning sessions that may serve an ancillary use (as a supplementary illustration for discussion, e.g., this is the depot we go after tomorrow during a flyover) But then, if you can fly over it, why not go after it then? Another example: during a coordinated maneuver, plane-to-plane communications are in the critical path but during fire control they are not. Second, the operating system or run-time environment has task migration capabilities. Third, storage is cheap - can store images of multiple processes in different states on each computing device for purpose of instantiating one or more in any combination on that device and across devices for reconfigurable distributed computing. This paper presents a software architecture and an algorithm for resource management in such systems.