Verification and Validation in the Life-Cycle of Real-Time Software Development

Rapid advances in computer technology as hardware and software have provided the capability to develop complex real-time systems. While these advances have enabled significant increases in system efficiency and has allowed the development and operation of systems that were earlier impossible, it has also introduced the inherent drawback of system induced failures. In the real-time computing environment, for a complex system, the software components are highly interdependent and therefore identification and resolving software problems early in the life-cycle is necessary to prevent the probable catastrophic failures in actual utilization. In general, the software development cycle is divided into phases of requirements, implementation and testing. The basic objectives in verification and validation (V&V) of software requirements and design specifications are to identify and resolve problems and high-risk issues during the life-cycle of real-time software development. In this respect the real-time software requirements have to be carefully determined and they should comprise the following features. a) Statement of the functions which software is expected to perform and the description of the required level of performance. b) Overall architecture of the software product and its components. c) Design specifications.