Automatization of software development and production for hardware/software based complexes on the basis of PC104/PC104+ format modules

Automatization of software development used in production of hardware/software based embedded complexes (HSC) is based on a number of technologies that allow to reduce the time of product release to the open market and to increase software and HSC qualitative characteristic.

Solvable tasks

• Design, production and management of HSC software configurational information data bases (CIDB).
• Development of software configuration programs on the basis of CIDB.
• Development of executable software module forming technology.
• Development of launching in debugging rate technology and software remote configuration technology.
• Development of remote test technology and software operation correctness control technology.
• Development of work documentation output technology

Development objects

DB development

• Use of public software for DB operation in order to reduce the software development cost.
• Production of unified technology that creates and follows the information concerning software configuration for a specific HSC model.
• Distributed network access with each DB client rights control. It is possible to keep other information than configuration information in DB:
  –   feed software modules
  –   information on software programs and other software objects.
• Configuration files forming (on the basis of CIDB information) that realizes HSC software tooling.
• Automatic check of configuration files correctness on the basis of CIDB information.

Software configuration technology

Realized by using a program that connects to DB server in order to read the tables comprizing of configuration information for each HSC model. The result of software configuration are files comprizing of client tasks configuration. These files can be changed remotely during operation process for efficient software reconfiguration using instrumental computer (PC).

Executable module forming technology

Feed module forming is the result of picked software version compilation at integrated development environment.

Software operation launch, test and remote configuration technology

This technology is realized through remote launch and HSC software configuration programs. PC is used as a remote instrumental computer.
In order to realize software operation local and remote control it is nessecary to develop additional modules for all client tasks that test there current status.
Test development and realization with results reflection is done in ready/failure form. In case of failure the more detailed test is done to reveal the tasks that deviate from regular operation.
In order to receive the information during failure test an opportunity of task's configuration delivery (launch parameters, etc.) by server request is provided.
Current status control and software debugging process is realized by remote connection to HSC (wire/wireless Ethernet) with the use of standart means (web-browsers). At the same time a specially developed web-server is used which is launched simultaneously with the software server.