Combining Transactional and Behavioural Reliability in Adaptive Middleware

International audienceAdaptive systems behaviours can be intuitively programmed, using rule based middleware, as a set of rules. The rules verify conditions and perform actions in order to achieve a set of objectives. However, this raises several problems. First, inconsistencies may result from the fact that an action is not actually performed due to a communication error or a hardware failure. Second, the rules may be conflicting and their sequential chaining may lead to undesirable behaviour. This paper proposes an approach that combines transactional and behavioural reliability (i.e. consistency and no conflict) in adaptive middleware. This approach is implemented using the middleware LINC and the automata based language Heptagon/BZR. A case study, in the field of building automation, is presented to illustrate the approach

Design Framework for Reliable and Environment Aware Management of Smart Environment Devices

International audienceA smart environment is equipped with numerous devices (i.e., sensors, actuators) that are possibly distributed over different locations (e.g., rooms of a smart building). These devices are automatically controlled to achieve different objectives related, for instance, to comfort, security and energy savings. Controlling smart environment devices is not an easy task. This is due to: the heterogeneity of devices, the inconsistencies that can result from communication errors or devices failure, and the conflicting decisions including those caused by environment dependencies. This paper proposes a design framework for the reliable and environment aware management of smart environment devices. The framework is based on the combination of the rule based middleware LINC and the automata based language Heptagon/BZR (H/BZR). It consists of: an abstraction layer for the heterogeneity of devices, a transactional execution mechanism to avoid inconsistencies and a controller that, based on a generic model of the environment, makes appropriate decisions and avoids conflicts. A case study with concrete devices, in the field of building automation, is presented to illustrate the framework

Modular and Hierarchical Discrete Control for Applications and Middleware Deployment in IoT and Smart Buildings

International audienceIn the Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Homes and Buildings, sensors and actuators are controlled through a management software, that runs on a distributed network of heterogeneous processors. Such management systems have to be self-adaptive w.r.t. different aspects, at applications level (functionalities) as well as deployment level (software tasks, execution platform). Holding a well-mastered and safe behaviour of the overall system, in presence of these concurrent adaptations, is a complex control problem. We approach this problem by applying techniques from the area of Supervisory Control for Discrete Event Systems (DES), where the space of configurations at the different levels are modeled with automata. We use programming language support tools, Heptagon/BZR and ReaX, to build up a design environment for the considered application domain. This paper contributes with (i) generic behavioural models for both the applicative and deployment aspects of systems; (ii) applications of Discrete Controller Synthesis (DCS) to design controllers, especially modular and hierarchical control structures; (iii) an implemented case study

Towards a formal reference computational model for cloud configuration management

The multiplication of models, languages, APIs and tools for cloud and network configuration management raises heterogeneity issues that can be tackled by introducing a reference model. A reference model provides a common basis for interpretation for various models and languages, and for bridging different APIs and tools.This report formally specifies, in the Alloy specification language, a reference model for cloud configuration management, we call the Cloudnet Computational Model. We show how to formally interpret several configuration languages in it, including the TOSCA configuration language, the OpenStack Heat Orchestration Template, the Docker Compose configuration language, and the Aeolus cloud deployment model. We show in particular how the formal operational semantics of our Cloudnet computation modelallows us to extend the TOSCA standard with Aeolus concepts for deployment lifecycle,and how the Alloy formalization allowed us to discover several classes of errors in the OpenStack HOT specification

Middleware support for adaptive reliable design and deployment, application to building automation

Dans le contexte de l’informatique pervasive et de l’internet des objets, les systèmes sonthétérogènes, distribués et adaptatifs (p. ex., systèmes de gestion des transports, bâtimentsintelligents). La conception et le déploiement de ces systèmes sont rendus difficiles par leurnature hétérogène et distribuée mais aussi le risque de décisions d’adaptation conflictuelleset d’inconsistances à l’exécution. Les inconsistances sont causées par des pannes matériellesou des erreurs de communication. Elles surviennent lorsque des actions correspondant auxdécisions d’adaptation sont supposées être effectuées alors qu’elles ne le sont pas.Cette thèse propose un support intergiciel, appelé SICODAF, pour la conception et ledéploiement de systèmes adaptatifs fiables. SICODAF combine une fiabilité comportementale(absence de décisions conflictuelles) au moyen de systèmes de transitions et une fiabilitéd’exécution (absence d’inconsistances) à l’aide d’un intergiciel transactionnel. SICODAF estbasé sur le calcul autonomique. Il permet de concevoir et de déployer un système adaptatifsous la forme d’une boucle autonomique qui est constituée d’une couche d’abstraction, d’unmécanisme d’exécution transactionnelle et d’un contrôleur. SICODAF supporte trois typesde contrôleurs (basés sur des règles, sur la théorie du contrôle continu ou discret). Il permetégalement la reconfiguration d’une boucle, afin de gérer les changements d’objectifs quisurviennent dans le système considéré, et l’intégration d’un système de détection de pannesmatérielles. Enfin, SICODAF permet la conception de boucles multiples pour des systèmesqui sont constitués de nombreuses entités ou qui requièrent des contrôleurs de types différents.Ces boucles peuvent être combinées en parallèle, coordonnées ou hiérarchiques.SICODAF a été mis en oeuvre à l’aide de l’intergiciel transactionnel LINC, de l’environnementd’abstraction PUTUTU et du langage Heptagon/BZR qui est basé sur des systèmesde transitions. SICODAF a été également évalué à l’aide de trois études de cas.In the context of pervasive computing and internet of things, systems are heterogeneous,distributed and adaptive (e.g., transport management systems, building automation). Thedesign and the deployment of these systems are made difficult by their heterogeneous anddistributed nature but also by the risk of conflicting adaptation decisions and inconsistenciesat runtime. Inconsistencies are caused by hardware failures or communication errors. Theyoccur when actions corresponding to the adaptation decisions are assumed to be performedbut are not done.This thesis proposes a middleware support, called SICODAF, for the design and thedeployment of reliable adaptive systems. SICODAF combines a behavioral reliability (absenceof conflicting decisions) by means of transitions systems and an execution reliability(absence of inconsistencies) through a transactional middleware. SICODAF is based on autonomiccomputing. It allows to design and deploy an adaptive system in the form of anautonomic loop which consists of an abstraction layer, a transactional execution mechanismand a controller. SICODAF supports three types of controllers (based on rules, on continuousor discrete control theory). SICODAF also allows for loop reconfiguration, to dealwith changing objectives in the considered system, and the integration of a hardware failuredetection system. Finally, SICODAF allows for the design of multiple loops for systems thatconsist of a high number of entities or that require controllers of different types. These loopscan be combined in parallel, coordinated or hierarchical.SICODAF was implemented using the transactional middleware LINC, the abstractionenvironment PUTUTU and the language Heptagon/BZR that is based on transitionssystems. SICODAF was also evaluated using three case studies

Support intergiciel pour la conception et le déploiement adaptatifs fiables, application aux bâtiments intelligents

In the context of pervasive computing and internet of things, systems are heterogeneous,distributed and adaptive (e.g., transport management systems, building automation). Thedesign and the deployment of these systems are made difficult by their heterogeneous anddistributed nature but also by the risk of conflicting adaptation decisions and inconsistenciesat runtime. Inconsistencies are caused by hardware failures or communication errors. Theyoccur when actions corresponding to the adaptation decisions are assumed to be performedbut are not done.This thesis proposes a middleware support, called SICODAF, for the design and thedeployment of reliable adaptive systems. SICODAF combines a behavioral reliability (absenceof conflicting decisions) by means of transitions systems and an execution reliability(absence of inconsistencies) through a transactional middleware. SICODAF is based on autonomiccomputing. It allows to design and deploy an adaptive system in the form of anautonomic loop which consists of an abstraction layer, a transactional execution mechanismand a controller. SICODAF supports three types of controllers (based on rules, on continuousor discrete control theory). SICODAF also allows for loop reconfiguration, to dealwith changing objectives in the considered system, and the integration of a hardware failuredetection system. Finally, SICODAF allows for the design of multiple loops for systems thatconsist of a high number of entities or that require controllers of different types. These loopscan be combined in parallel, coordinated or hierarchical.SICODAF was implemented using the transactional middleware LINC, the abstractionenvironment PUTUTU and the language Heptagon/BZR that is based on transitionssystems. SICODAF was also evaluated using three case studies.Dans le contexte de l’informatique pervasive et de l’internet des objets, les systèmes sonthétérogènes, distribués et adaptatifs (p. ex., systèmes de gestion des transports, bâtimentsintelligents). La conception et le déploiement de ces systèmes sont rendus difficiles par leurnature hétérogène et distribuée mais aussi le risque de décisions d’adaptation conflictuelleset d’inconsistances à l’exécution. Les inconsistances sont causées par des pannes matériellesou des erreurs de communication. Elles surviennent lorsque des actions correspondant auxdécisions d’adaptation sont supposées être effectuées alors qu’elles ne le sont pas.Cette thèse propose un support intergiciel, appelé SICODAF, pour la conception et ledéploiement de systèmes adaptatifs fiables. SICODAF combine une fiabilité comportementale(absence de décisions conflictuelles) au moyen de systèmes de transitions et une fiabilitéd’exécution (absence d’inconsistances) à l’aide d’un intergiciel transactionnel. SICODAF estbasé sur le calcul autonomique. Il permet de concevoir et de déployer un système adaptatifsous la forme d’une boucle autonomique qui est constituée d’une couche d’abstraction, d’unmécanisme d’exécution transactionnelle et d’un contrôleur. SICODAF supporte trois typesde contrôleurs (basés sur des règles, sur la théorie du contrôle continu ou discret). Il permetégalement la reconfiguration d’une boucle, afin de gérer les changements d’objectifs quisurviennent dans le système considéré, et l’intégration d’un système de détection de pannesmatérielles. Enfin, SICODAF permet la conception de boucles multiples pour des systèmesqui sont constitués de nombreuses entités ou qui requièrent des contrôleurs de types différents.Ces boucles peuvent être combinées en parallèle, coordonnées ou hiérarchiques.SICODAF a été mis en oeuvre à l’aide de l’intergiciel transactionnel LINC, de l’environnementd’abstraction PUTUTU et du langage Heptagon/BZR qui est basé sur des systèmesde transitions. SICODAF a été également évalué à l’aide de trois études de cas

Génération de règles de coordination à partir de réseaux de Pétri colorés

National audienceCet article présente un environnement de génération de règles de coordination à partir de réseaux de Petri colorés. L’environnement proposé est basé sur un langage dédié appelé cpnDSL. À partir d’une spécification cpnDSL décrivant un système donné, des règles de coordination correctes par construction et directement exécutables dans l’environement LINC sont générées. Un modèle vérifiable pour valider le comportement du système et un modèle graphique pour permettre la discussion entre les différents membres du projet sont également générés. Une étude de cas issue du domaine du transport est présentée pour illustrer l’approche proposée

Coordination Rules Generation from Coloured Petri Net Models

Abstract. This paper presents an environment to automatically generate coordination rules from coloured Petri nets models

Design framework for reliable and environment aware management of smart environment devices

Abstract A smart environment is equipped with numerous devices (i.e., sensors, actuators) that are possibly distributed over different locations (e.g., rooms of a smart building). These devices are automatically controlled to achieve different objectives related, for instance, to comfort, security and energy savings. Controlling smart environment devices is not an easy task. This is due to: the heterogeneity of devices, the inconsistencies that can result from communication errors or devices failure, and the conflicting decisions including those caused by environment dependencies. This paper proposes a design framework for the reliable and environment aware management of smart environment devices. The framework is based on the combination of the rule based middleware LINC and the automata based language Heptagon/BZR (H/BZR). It consists of: an abstraction layer for the heterogeneity of devices, a transactional execution mechanism to avoid inconsistencies and a controller that, based on a generic model of the environment, makes appropriate decisions and avoids conflicts. A case study with concrete devices, in the field of building automation, is presented to illustrate the framework

Design Framework for Reliable Multiple Autonomic Loops in Smart Environments

International audienceToday's control systems such as smart environments have the ability to adapt to their environment in order to achieve a set of objectives (e.g., comfort, security and energy savings). This is done by changing their behaviour upon the occurrence of specific events. Building such a system requires to design and implement autonomic loops that collect events and measurements, make decisions and execute the corresponding actions. The design and the implementation of such loops are made difficult by several factors: the complexity of systems with multiple objectives, the risk of conflicting decisions between multiple loops, the inconsistencies that can result from communication errors and hardware failures and the heterogeneity of the devices. In this paper, we propose a design framework for reliable and self-adaptive systems, where multiple autonomic loops can be composed into complex managers, and we consider its application to smart environments. We build upon the proposed framework a generic autonomic loop which combines an automata-based controller that makes correct and coherent decisions, a transac-tional execution mechanism that avoids inconsistencies, and an abstraction layer that hides the heterogeneity of the devices. We propose patterns for composition of such loops, in parallel, coordinated, and hierarchically, with benefits from the leveraging of automata-based modular constructs, that provides for guarantees on the correct behaviour of the controlled system. We implement our framework with the transactional middleware LINC, the reactive language Heptagon/BZR and the abstraction framework PUTUTU. A case study in the field of building automation is presented to illustrate the proposed framework