A Software Diversity Model for Embedded Safety-critical System

Embedded safety-critical systems are emerging with increasing complexity and software-intensive, the use of diversity in software is helpful to increase safety and reliability. In this paper, a software diversity model from practice of Zone Controller in communications-based train control application is presented. Firstly, we discuss software architecture and safety tactics of embedded systems, and then construct a software diversity model of embedded safety-critical system based on fail-safe principle, lastly, we use Markov model to analyze safety of the diversity model quantitatively. The result has interesting implications for software implementation in embedded safety-critical applications.