A Consistent Design Methodology for Configurable HW/SW-Interfaces in Embedded Systems

Abstract

Abstract:In the embedded systems domain predictability, fault tolerance and high-speed data transmission rates are key challenges for the interface design. Multiple tasks and channels communicate through different protocols with each other. In this paper we present a consistent design approach for configurable realtime interfaces. An interface design methodology therefore should regard the relationship between distributed tasks, channels and supported protocols within a HW/SW Codesign scenario. The model dependent parameters are important information for this process and are represented in a formal UMLbased way. As result of the design process an interface-block (IPB) is generated which considers all these parameters. A complex embedded system in the context of a case study implements a collision avoidance algorithm for two interacting robots. It demonstrates the usability of this concept for an implementation of HW/SW-interfaces with respect to the real-time restrictions ..