Reducing WCET Overestimations by Correcting Errors in Loop Bound Constraints

In order to reduce overestimations of worst-case execution time (WCET), in this article, we firstly report a kind of specific WCET overestimation caused by non-orthogonal nested loops. Then, we propose a novel correction approach which has three basic steps. The first step is to locate the worst-cas...

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Main Authors: Fanqi Meng, Xiaohong Su
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2017-12-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/12/2113
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author Fanqi Meng
Xiaohong Su
author_facet Fanqi Meng
Xiaohong Su
author_sort Fanqi Meng
collection DOAJ
description In order to reduce overestimations of worst-case execution time (WCET), in this article, we firstly report a kind of specific WCET overestimation caused by non-orthogonal nested loops. Then, we propose a novel correction approach which has three basic steps. The first step is to locate the worst-case execution path (WCEP) in the control flow graph and then map it onto source code. The second step is to identify non-orthogonal nested loops from the WCEP by means of an abstract syntax tree. The last step is to recursively calculate the WCET errors caused by the loose loop bound constraints, and then subtract the total errors from the overestimations. The novelty lies in the fact that the WCET correction is only conducted on the non-branching part of WCEP, thus avoiding potential safety risks caused by possible WCEP switches. Experimental results show that our approach reduces the specific WCET overestimation by an average of more than 82%, and 100% of corrected WCET is no less than the actual WCET. Thus, our approach is not only effective but also safe. It will help developers to design energy-efficient and safe real-time systems.
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spelling doaj.art-3dafb00f9e4a46d09c61a89f500f31c82022-12-22T04:19:42ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732017-12-011012211310.3390/en10122113en10122113Reducing WCET Overestimations by Correcting Errors in Loop Bound ConstraintsFanqi Meng0Xiaohong Su1School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaSchool of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaIn order to reduce overestimations of worst-case execution time (WCET), in this article, we firstly report a kind of specific WCET overestimation caused by non-orthogonal nested loops. Then, we propose a novel correction approach which has three basic steps. The first step is to locate the worst-case execution path (WCEP) in the control flow graph and then map it onto source code. The second step is to identify non-orthogonal nested loops from the WCEP by means of an abstract syntax tree. The last step is to recursively calculate the WCET errors caused by the loose loop bound constraints, and then subtract the total errors from the overestimations. The novelty lies in the fact that the WCET correction is only conducted on the non-branching part of WCEP, thus avoiding potential safety risks caused by possible WCEP switches. Experimental results show that our approach reduces the specific WCET overestimation by an average of more than 82%, and 100% of corrected WCET is no less than the actual WCET. Thus, our approach is not only effective but also safe. It will help developers to design energy-efficient and safe real-time systems.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/12/2113real-time systemsoftware safetyWCET analysisworst-case execution pathloop bound
spellingShingle Fanqi Meng
Xiaohong Su
Reducing WCET Overestimations by Correcting Errors in Loop Bound Constraints
Energies
real-time system
software safety
WCET analysis
worst-case execution path
loop bound
title Reducing WCET Overestimations by Correcting Errors in Loop Bound Constraints
title_full Reducing WCET Overestimations by Correcting Errors in Loop Bound Constraints
title_fullStr Reducing WCET Overestimations by Correcting Errors in Loop Bound Constraints
title_full_unstemmed Reducing WCET Overestimations by Correcting Errors in Loop Bound Constraints
title_short Reducing WCET Overestimations by Correcting Errors in Loop Bound Constraints
title_sort reducing wcet overestimations by correcting errors in loop bound constraints
topic real-time system
software safety
WCET analysis
worst-case execution path
loop bound
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/12/2113
work_keys_str_mv AT fanqimeng reducingwcetoverestimationsbycorrectingerrorsinloopboundconstraints
AT xiaohongsu reducingwcetoverestimationsbycorrectingerrorsinloopboundconstraints