Efficient diagnosis of multiprocessor systems under probabilistic models

The problem of fault diagnosis in multiprocessor systems is considered under a probabilistic fault model. The focus is on minimizing the number of tests that must be conducted in order to correctly diagnose the state of every processor in the system with high probability. A diagnosis algorithm that can correctly diagnose the state of every processor with probability approaching one in a class of systems performing slightly greater than a linear number of tests is presented. A nearly matching lower bound on the number of tests required to achieve correct diagnosis in arbitrary systems is also proven. Lower and upper bounds on the number of tests required for regular systems are also presented. A class of regular systems which includes hypercubes is shown to be correctly diagnosable with high probability. In all cases, the number of tests required under this probabilistic model is shown to be significantly less than under a bounded-size fault set model. Because the number of tests that must be conducted is a measure of the diagnosis overhead, these results represent a dramatic improvement in the performance of system-level diagnosis techniques

Energy-aware test connection assignment for the self-diagnosis of a wireless sensor network

Abstract Sensor nodes in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are prone to failures due to the fragile hardware, malicious attacks, or hostile or harsh environment. In order to assure reliable, long-term monitoring of the phenomenon under investigation, a major challenge is to detect node malfunctions as soon as possible and with an energy efficient approach. We address this problem by using a system-level diagnosis strategy in which the sink issues to the WSN a self-diagnosis task that involves a number of mutual tests among sensors. Based on the test outcomes, the sink executes the diagnosis procedure. This work presents an algorithm for the assignment of tests among the sensors of a WSN that assures the desired system diagnosability and that is aware of energy consumption. We show by simulation experiments that the present approach, as compared to a previous one, enables consistent energy savings on the sensors

(t, k)-diagnosable system: A generalization of the PMC models

ln this paper, we introduce a new model for diagnosable systems called (t, k)-diagnosable system which guarantees that at least k faulty units (processors) in a system are detected provided that the number of faulty units does not exceed t. This system includes classical one-step diagnosable systems and sequentially diagnosable systems. We prove a necessary and sufficient condition for (t, k)-diagnosable system, and discuss a lower bound for diagnosability. Finally, we deal with a relation between (t, k)-diagnosability and diagnosability of classical basic models

A survey on efficient diagnosability tests for automata and bounded Petri nets

This paper presents a survey and evaluation of the efficiency of polynomial diagnosability algorithms for systems modeled by Petri nets and automata. A modified verification algorithm that reduces the state space by exploiting symmetry and abstracting unobservable transitions is also proposed. We show the importance of minimal explanations on the performance of diagnosability verifiers. Different verifiers are compared in terms of state space and elapsed time. It is shown that the minimal explanation notion involved in the modified basis reachability graph, a graph presented by Cabasino et al. [3] for diagnosability analysis of Petri nets, has great impact also on automata-based diagnosability methods. The evaluation often shows improved computation times of a factor 1000 or more when the concept of minimal explanation is included in the computation