Embedded Software Market Transformation through Reusable Frameworks

Object-oriented frameworks are a software reuse technology that fosters reuse of entire architectures and which has made software reuse a reality in many domain areas. Like other advanced software techniques, however, framework technology has seldom been used in the embedded domain. This paper argues that its application to embedded (control) systems is technically feasible and liable to bring to them the same benefits it has already brought to other domains. The description of a prototype framework for satellite control systems corroborates the argument. It is then argued that software frameworks, when combined with other enabling technologies, have the potential to standardize various aspects of embedded software and to transform the embedded sytems market.