Performance Analysis of Industrial Ethernet Networks by Means of Timed Model-Checking

Abstract

Ethernet networks are promising for the harmonization of the communication technologies in manufacturing automation but they have not been specifically intended for industrial control applications. Investigations have thus become necessary to evaluate their performance. Most analysis approaches use probabilistic models to validate the system's behavior. However, if the deterministic behavior of a system needs to be ensured exhaustively, formal verification techniques, like model-checking are more appropriate. Unfortunately the state-space explosion problem constitutes a serious obstacle. Considering a real-time Ethernet network as a case-study, this paper describes sophisticated modelingtechniques, which help to alleviate the state-space explosion, for the timed model-checker Uppaal.

Measuring the impact of vertical integration on response times in ethernet fieldbuses

“…before it exists, and consequently it requires models of the system. The following approaches can be quoted: methods based on analytic models (Worst Case evaluation [5], Network Calculus [2]), exhaustive state space model exploration (timed model-checking [13], probabilistic model-checking [3]) and partial state space model exploration (simulation [9], [14]). The second kind of evaluation method aims to evaluate the performances of a system during its running phase, i.e.…”

Measures vs. analytic evaluation of response time of Networked Automation Systems

“…This is mainly due to the non synchronization between the field devices of the NAS and the absence of a global scheduling of the shared resources. Nonetheless, many methods have been proposed to assess the response time of these NAS; non exhaustive methods based on simulation [6], [7], [8] or experimentation [9], and exhaustive ones, using model-checking [10], [11]. Lately, we exposed an analytic method in [12] and provided formulae to calculate the bounds of response time.…”

Client-Server Networked Automation Systems Reactivity: Deterministic and Probabilistic Analysis

“…A number of investigations have been undertaken to assess delays caused by networks but they are in their majority limited to the delays experienced while crossing the communication network and ignore the field devices effects [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7]. Among the investigations that consider the whole NAS, we find methods based on models simulation [8], [9], [10], others based on model checking [11], [12] and obviously experimental methods [13]. Depending on the NAS, either the bounds of the response time or its distribution need to be assessed.…”