Estimating Markov Modulated Software Reliability Models via EM Algorithm

In this paper, we develop a parameter estimation method to Markovian software reliability models. When software fault-detection rates change in the software testing phase, fault-detection processes can be generally modeled by Markov modulated processes. This paper deals with a unified parameter estimation method for Markov modulated software reliability models as well as the typical pure birth process models. In numerical examples, we evaluate a goodness-of-fit for the Markov modulated software reliability models with real fault data, and show numerically that the Markov modulated software reliability models are superior to the existing pure birth process models in the viewpoint of information criterion