Reliability, Diagnosis – Challenges to Pervasive Computing

Pervasive computing systems are highly complex due not only to vast heterogeneity but also to mobile, ad hoc interactions. As a result, it is very costly to provide post-purchase customer support for home pervasive computing. We have investigated current approaches that might provide technologies for solutions: faulttolerant/reliable computing, self-healing/autonomic computing, and tools for testing, fault diagnosis and isolation. We believe that fault-tolerant/reliable computing and self-healing/autonomic computing at their current stages are far too costly and complex to be adapted in consumer electronic systems, and developing testing and diagnostic tools for pervasive computing systems may be necessary. Although building a general, comprehensive testing and diagnostic tool is difficult if not impossible, tools that focus on specific areas may be a good way to start. To enable tool development for pervasive-computing test and diagnosis, fault models, testing and diagnostic methods/algorithms need to be developed, and standardization efforts may be necessary for testing and fault isolation especially for cross-vendor systems.