Modeling and analyzing performance of software for wireless sensor networks

Abstract

The development of software for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) is mostly based on code-and-fix techniques. Up today model-driven engineering techniques have only been limitedly considered in this domain, although they would enable a set of activities aimed at improving the quality of software. In this paper we investigate the possibility to adapt an existing model-based approach that exploits such techniques to combine the modeling and performance analysis of software for WSN. We introduce a UML-based framework where a system model (i) is extended with a new profile for representing NesC application along with the supporting hardware platform, and (ii) is annotated with performance parameters defined in the standard UML MARTE profile. Thereafter we apply a set of transformations to this enhanced UML model that targets a Queueing Network performance model. Finally we illustrate our approach at work on a case study in the agricultural domain.

Modeling and Timing Simulation of Agilla Agents for WSN Applications in Executable UML

“…As short-term goals, we are working on the timing analysis of WTA to determine the average time needed to the tracker to distribute on a WSN and to readapt the fire perimeter to fire movements. For this scope we need to extend the existing AMF with further executable UML model libraries 4 to support network-level timing analysis. Moreover, we are working on removing the gap between the modeling for code generation and for simulation to remove extra effort in modeling Agilla-based WSN applications.…”

“…In [4], the authors investigate the possibility to adapt an existing model-based approach that exploits such techniques to combine the modeling and performance analysis of software for WSN. They introduce a UML-based framework where a system model (i) is extended with a new profile for representing NesC application along with the supporting hardware platform, and (ii) is annotated with performance parameters defined in the standard UML MARTE profile.…”

An approach based on the domain perspective to develop WSAN applications

“…The applications are organized in a structural view and a behavioral view through UML's component and sequence diagrams, respectively. Unfortunately, the numerous TinyOS platform properties present in [5] did no help to construct our domain model, but we found the presented division between the specification of structure and behavior valid for the definition of WSAN applications independently on the target platform. Such a division is important because it separates the physical organization of the network from the node's behavior, two viewpoints that are fundamental for the WSAN development process.…”

“…Our goal was to elucidate the properties needed to a meta-model where domain experts could describe their systems using only abstract concepts from the WSAN field. As outcome of such literature review, we highlight the works described in [5,10,17,24,39].…”

“…In [5], the authors use a UML profile for the specification of WSAN applications for TinyOS platform. The applications are organized in a structural view and a behavioral view through UML's component and sequence diagrams, respectively.…”