Extended the DARTS software design method to distributed real time applications

A software design method is described for distributed real-time applications that typically consist of several concurrent tasks executing on multiple nodes supported by a local area network. The design method is an extension of DARTS (design approach for real-time systems) and is called DARTS/DA (DARTS for distributed applications). The method starts by developing a data-flow model of the distributed application using structured analysis. The next stage involves decomposing the application into distributed subsystems based on a set of subsystem structuring criteria and defining the interfaces between therm. next each subsystem is structured into concurrent tasks using the DARTS task-structuring criteria, and the interfaces between tasks are defined. Finally each task is structured into modules. As an example, DARTS/DA is applied to the design of a distributed factory-automation system.<>