A novel modeling framework for time-triggered safety-critical embedded systems

This paper presents the Platform Specific Time Triggered Model (PS-TTM), a SystemC based modeling and simulation framework for time-triggered safety-critical embedded systems. The approach facilitates the modeling of Time-Triggered Architecture (TTA) based embedded systems, following a strict separation between the designs of functionality and platform. The PS-TTM provides a value and time domain deterministic simulation environment for an early functional and temporal assessment of the systems. Moreover, the framework includes a time-triggered automatic test executor that enables to perform non-intrusive simulated fault injection (SFI) to the models. The SFI makes an early dependability assessment possible, what reduces the risk of late and expensive discovery of safety related pitfalls. The feasibility of the proposed framework is illustrated with a case study, based on the modeling, simulation and validation of a simplified railway on-board signaling system.