Improving system dependability with functional alternatives
Shelton, C.P.
Koopman, P.
Res. & Technol. Center, Robert Bosch Corp., Pittsburgh, PA, USA;
This paper appears in: Dependable Systems and Networks, 2004 International Conference on
Publication Date: 28 June-1 July 2004
On page(s): 295- 304
ISSN:
ISBN: 0-7695-2052-9
INSPEC Accession Number: 8205301
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/DSN.2004.1311899
Current Version Published: 2004-07-26
Abstract
We present the concept of alternative functionality for improving dependability in distributed embedded systems. Alternative functionality is a mechanism that complements traditional performability and graceful degradation techniques. Rather than providing reduced performance or functionality when components or subsystems fail, alternative functionality replaces a lost feature with another existing system junction that can substitute for the lost service. This can provide improved system dependability when it is not feasible to allocate dedicated backup systems for fault tolerance. We show how alternative functionality can be applied to enhance system dependability with a case study of an elevator control system. In simulation, an elevator design that implemented alternative functionality in some of its subsystems tolerated many combinations of component failures that caused system failures in the original design.
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