Lock-Free Synchronization for Dynamic Embedded Real-Time Systems

• Published in: Proceedings of the Design Automation & Test in Europe Conference Vol. 1; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Hyeonjoong Cho, Ravindran, B., Jensen, E.D.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 2006
• Subjects: Control systems; Mars; NASA; Orbital robotics; Real time systems; Scheduling algorithm; Time factors; Time measurement; Uncertainty; Upper bound
• ISBN: 3981080114; 9783981080117
• ISSN: 1530-1591
• DOI: 10.1109/DATE.2006.243800

We consider lock-free synchronization for dynamic embedded real-time systems that are subject to resource overloads and arbitrary activity arrivals. We model activity arrival behaviors using the unimodal arbitrary arrival model (or UAM). UAM embodies a stronger "adversary" than most traditional arrival models. We derive the upper bound on lock-free retries under the UAM with utility accrual scheduling - the first such result. We establish the tradeoffs between lock-free and lock-based sharing under UAM. These include conditions under which activities' accrued timeliness utility is greater under lock-free than lock-based, and the consequent upper bound on the increase in accrued utility that is possible with lock-free. We confirm our analytical results with a POSIX RTOS implementation