Smart objects for dependable real-time systems

We present a modular approach to systematically introduce fault-tolerant properties into the design of time-dependent software components. The G-Net methodology for object-oriented complex software system design and the EU model for object-oriented dependable system design are integrated into the unified concept of the smart object, which is an object with an associated knowledge structure that incorporates the necessary parameters of the real-time task, such as the timing constraints and reliability requirements. Techniques to design resilient smart objects are described. These include fault tolerance guarantees and timing/performance/safety analysis