Design and implementation of real-time distributed systems with the ASSERT Virtual Machine

This paper describes how the ASSERT Virtual Machine, a dedicated execution platform that guarantees a predictable real-time behaviour, can be used to develop real-time embedded distributed systems with high-integrity requirements. The concept of virtual machine-level software components is developed, and sample programming patterns are provided. Components are used in the framework of the ASSERT development process, and are based on the Ravenscar Computational Model, a concurrent tasking model which can be statically analysed for a correct real-time behaviour. The current architecture of the ASSERT virtual machine is described in detail, and experience gained with its use in the last few years is provided.