Predicting Real-Time Properties of Component-Based Applications

In this paper we discuss the prediction of timing properties of a multi-tasking component-based application already during the design phase. At this stage, it is of vital importance to guarantee that the timing requirements (e.g. response times) of a real-time application will be satisfied. This can be achieved by predicting the real-time behaviour of a component-based application. In this paper, we extend an existing scenario-based approach [2] with the possibility to model the behaviour of an application and the behavior of the underlying components. This extension allows an application developer to predict the real-time properties of a component assembly before its actual implementation. The modelling involves the specification of synchronization constraints for tasks and the simulation of application behaviour. A concluding casestudy of video encoder development reveals that the approach is not only feasible but also brings a contribution to the design of the softwareintensive multimedia real-time systems.