EMA2AOP: From the AADL Error Model Annex to aspect language towards fault tolerant systems

Abstract

Fault tolerance, one of the means of dependability, is defined as the capability of a system to continue providing offered services even in the presence of errors. Modelling fault tolerant systems is becoming a serious challenge due to emerging requirements suh as dynamism, distribution and system evolution. In this context, AADL is extended by the Error Model Annex to design architectural error model even for critical systems for analysis and assessment purposes. In this paper, we define a model driven approach to generate fault tolerant application code using aspect oriented programming. First, we integrate fault tolerance elements since the modelling step of a system using AADL and its annex Error Model Annex. Second, we define a set of transformation rules from the EMA annex to the AO4AADL annex, an extension of the AADL language by architectural aspects. The model transformation is generic and not specific to a language. AO4AADL is transformed into aspect code using the same target language as the functional code. Therefore, we ensure separation of concerns at the model level as well as the application level. To validate our approach, we apply it to an infant incubator system.