Handling Cyclic Execution Paths in Timing Analysis of Component-Based Software

Usage of model-driven and component-based development approaches in embedded systems allows timing analysis to be performed using system models. One of the problems rarely addressed by model-level analysis is support for analysis of cyclic execution paths. In this paper we present a method which allows compositional worst-case execution time analysis to be performed on software models containing such cycles. Our method allows defining cycle bounds for components and connections, and provides an algorithm to analyze cyclic paths containing such bounds. Additionally, we provide a possibility to propagate cycle bound definitions through the component hierarchy. The method is applied to the IEC 61499 component model and its applicability has been tested using a prototype tool.