A mechanism for data interchange between embedded software sub-systems developed using heterogenous modeling domains

In the domain of embedded systems, the complexities involved in embedded software development are being successfully addressed by the emerging field of model-based software development and testing. However, in embedded systems, the underlying embedded software is often expected to collaborate with various hardware, mechanical, electrical modules/technologies. To address this aspect of heterogeneity in embedded systems, practitioners of model-based embedded software engineering are required to use more than one modeling language. This is essential to address the multi-faceted design aspects/requirements of an embedded system. This paper elaborates on the existing data interchange and coupling mechanisms between embedded software sub-systems modeled using UML and Matlab/Simulink. While there are some existing coupling mechanisms for data exchange among heterogenous modeling domains, they are all not applicable to all real-time operating systems and/or limited to a few simulation studies. This paper addresses the aforementioned gaps and proposes a simple, generic methodology for data exchange between events (in UML domain) and signals (in Matlab/Simulink domain). The proposed approach is elaborated using a seesaw (real-word) embedded software system application scenario example. Initial prototype implementation of the proposed approach, experimental results and some future directions are outlined.