Ingredients for the specification of mixed-criticality real-time systems

Abstract

Models for real-time computing are available with different timing requirements. With the ongoing trend towards integration of services of different degrees of timing strictness on one single platform, there is a need to specify computing models for such scenarios. In this paper we study the requirements to specify mixed criticality real-time systems (MCRTS). Mixed criticality systems have been studied intensively over the last years. Existing formulations of the scheduling problem for mixed criticality systems do not consider the different timing strictness requirements of the tasks. In this paper we argue that mixed criticality properties as well as real-time properties have to be considered together in order to provide the maximal utility of a system. Based on that argument we present a list of ingredients required for the specification of MCRTS. We outline conceptually, how a system can take advantage of having MCRTS specifications available. We present some examples to show the usefulness of specifying MCRTS properties for real-life systems.