A toolset for visualization and analysis of parallel real-time embedded systems based on fast prototyping techniques

This paper describes a toolset, whose objective is to provide full support for the analysis and testing of temporal behavior in the development of parallel realtime systems. The development approach supported by the toolset is based on an incremental prototyping technique combined with successive analyses and tests of the temporal behavior of prototypes carried out along the development cycle. The toolset is composed of three main tools: a prototyper, a monitor and visualizer/analyzer. Most current monitoring and analysis tools are oriented to measure and visualize the behavior of software entities (mainly processes) and the utilization of hardware resources, that is, the elements of the system design. In addition to this, this toolset incorporates a graph based model that provides a functional view of the behavior. This is expressed in terms of the sequences of activities executed by the system in response to the main external environment events (reactive aspect of real-time systems). Moreover, the toolset provides a powerful means to design and test the system under development in an incremental manner.