Petri Nets-Based Development of Dynamically Reconfigurable Embedded Systems

workflow modeling, reference nets, embedded systems, model-based software engineering, code generation, model transformation

This paper deals with the embedded systems construction process based on the system specification modeled as a set of Petri nets. Modeling of the system starts with Workflow Petri Nets specification describing the main modules and processes within the system. Workflow model is then transformed to the multilayered Reference Nets structure, that is finally used for the code generation of the target system. The main goal of our approach is to provide for dynamic reconfigurability of the system deployment according to the changes within its specification. Dynamic reconfigurability means the possibility of system changes within its runtime. This is achieved by the decomposition of the whole functionality of the system to small interpretable pieces of computation. This approach also introduces several layers of reconfigurability using different translation rules operating on each layer. The heart of the system lies within the reference nets hosting platform called Petri Nets Operating System (PNOS) that includes the Petri Nets Virtual Machine (PNVM) that performs the very Reference Nets interpretation.