A framework for the graphical specification and execution of complex signal processing applications

A framework with a tool-supported high-level specification technique is very important for the development of complex signal processing applications containing software-intensive parts (e.g. hybrid systems in automated production processes) in order to provide safe and reliable systems. In this paper we present the concept of a framework, which is an object-oriented CASE-tool offering a graphical specification ability to model and validate a given application and to control its execution. A variety of people having different programming skills is able to use this visual specification technique effectively. Especially users not being interested in implementation details can specify their application on a high abstraction level by connecting reusable and reliable components (modules representing basic algorithms). As a result, complex signal graphs representing the dataflow between the modules are created. The tool supports this software specification technique by automatic type checking for the connections between modules and by changeable module parameters. On the other hand it is easy for software engineers to integrate additional signal processing algorithms into the framework thus building suitable module libraries without considering a specific high-level application