QoS analysis for component-based embedded software: Model and methodology

Component-based development (CBD) techniques have been widely used to enhance the productivity and reduce the cost for software systems development. However, applying CBD techniques to embedded software development faces additional challenges. For embedded systems, it is crucial to consider the quality of service (QoS) attributes, such as timeliness, memory limitations, output precision, and battery constraints. Frequently, multiple components implementing the same functionality with different QoS properties (measurements in terms of QoS attributes) can be used to compose a system. Also, software components may have parameters that can be configured to satisfy different QoS requirements. Composition analysis, which is used to determine the most suitable component selections and parameter settings to best satisfy the system QoS requirement, is very important in embedded software development process. In this paper, we present a model and the methodologies to facilitate composition analysis. We define QoS requirements as constraints and objectives. Composition analysis is performed based on the QoS properties and requirements to find solutions (component selections and parameter settings) that can optimize the QoS objectives while satisfying the QoS constraints. We use a multi-objective concept to model the composition analysis problem and use an evolutionary algorithm to determine the Pareto-optimal solutions efficiently.