NASA 1998 SBIR Phase I


PROPOSAL NUMBER: 98-1 01.04-3959

PROJECT TITLE: Fault-Tolerant Object-Oriented Code Generator

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS)

Quality Research Associates proposes developing a software tool to automatically generate interface code that integrates user applications with object-oriented (OO) modules from a library of software fault tolerance techniques. The approach involves generating high-level, OO code for inclusion in an application. The tool-produced code includes subclass specifications and shells, as well as code that describes the application scenario to the appropriate fault tolerance technique executive from the library. The approach’s key innovations include automatically generating subclass shells, generating ‘infrastructure’ code to facilitate application integration, providing structured ‘hints’ within stub code comments to aid users, and designing the automated code generation tool to work in conjunction with a reusable code library and a Software Fault Tolerance Design Assistant (SWFTDA) tool for selecting fault tolerance techniques. By automating tedious integration coding, the proposed technology would remove a significant obstacle to using the library of software fault tolerance techniques, especially for legacy systems that are not designed around OO constructs. Automating integration code generation and combining it with existing library and design utilities creates a powerful, end-to-end system that speeds development, reduces coding errors and increases developer productivity.

POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS

The technology assists system developers using software fault tolerance techniques for high-reliability computer systems, such as systems for commercial aircraft, plant control, medical device control, and transaction systems. Our approach provides an important part of an end-to-end development tool for fault-tolerant applications.

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Laura L. Pullum
Quality Research Associates, Inc.
2875 Williams Farm Drive
Dacula , GA 30019

NAME AND ADDRESS OF OFFEROR

Quality Research Associates, Inc.
2875 Williams Farm Drive
Dacula , GA 30019