Model-based system development for embedded mobile platforms

With the introduction and popularity of wireless devices, the diversity of the platforms has also been increased. There are different platforms and tools from different vendors such as Microsoft, Sun, Nokia, SonyEricsson and many more. Because of the relatively low-level programming interface, software development for Symbian platform is a tiresome and error prone task, whereas .NET CF contains higher level structures. This paper introduces the problem of the software development for incompatible mobile platforms, moreover, it provides a model-driven architecture (MDA) and Domain Specific Modeling Language (DSML)-based solution. We also discuss the relevance of the model-based approach that facilitates a more efficient software development, because the reuse and the generative techniques are key characteristics of model-based computing. In the presented approach, the platform-independence lies in the graph rewriting-driven visual model transformation. This paper illustrates the creation of model compilers on a metamodeling basis by a software package called Visual Modeling and Transformation System (VMTS), which is an n-layer multipurpose modeling and metamodel-based transformation system. A case study is also presented how model compilers can be used to generate user interface handler code for different mobile platforms from the same platform-independent input models