A flexible resource sharing framework for integrating hierarchical real-time components

Rapid development of computing technology and avionics systems have led highly flexible computing architecture, such as IMA (Integrated Modular Architecture) system architecture. One key problem in IMA system is resource sharing between multiple applications on a given middleware resource. In this paper, we propose a flexible hierarchical framework for resource sharing of realtime applications. Since many applications consist of multi-layered sub-components, we use hierarchical scheduling framework to share resource in IMA system. The application model in this paper consists of two parts: mandatory part for minimum requirement and optional part for additional quality of the application. The proposed framework enables automatic flexible resource sharing among applications for the purpose of efficient utilization of the system resource under the guarantee of the minimum requirement of applications. Thus, we define imprecise resource model, interface model of a component, and resource sharing algorithm. We also analyze the guarantee condition for minimum requirement, and propose a reward-based scheduling algorithm.