Synthesizing a scalable and incrementally updatable system software infrastructure for sensor networks

• US 20060161909A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Koshy, Joel J., Pandey, Raju
• Granted Patent: US 8,364,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5055 considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a method and a system for synthesizing a scalable and incrementally updatable system software infrastructure for sensor networks. During operation, the system receives a specification for an application and a specification for target devices. The system analyzes these specifications in order to identify a set of software components required to support the application, and then proceeds to synthesize a customizable software stack that accommodates the identified set of software components on a specified target device. This process generates a minimal, resource-efficient software stack for a specific application on the specified target device.

Claims

1. A method for synthesizing a scalable and incrementally updatable system software infrastructure for sensor networks, comprising:

receiving a specification for an application;

receiving a specification for target devices;

analyzing the specifications to identify a set of software components required to support the application; and

synthesizing a customizable software stack to accommodate the identified set of software components on a specified target device, thereby generating a minimal, resource-efficient software stack for a specific application on the specified target device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the method for automatically synthesizing and scaling software environments for a given application across a variety of heterogeneous devices with varying resources and capabilities;

and

wherein scaling comprises identifying software components with enhanced or diminished capabilities tailored to a specific device type.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein synthesizing the customizable software stack involves using a sensor network topology and a device description to synthesize the customizable software stack for the specified target device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the device description is used to define constraints for software components;

and

wherein the constraints are used to identify the software components.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the specification involves identifying software components used to automatically generate a virtual machine, an operating system, and/or middleware for the specified target device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the specific application is updated over time, and wherein the method further comprises:

tracking a set of application updates and the set of software components used by the specific application; and

generating incremental updates for the customizable software stack on the specified target device based on changes to the specific application.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein generating incremental updates for the customizable software stack on the specified target device involves changing and/or installing new software components for the specified target device.

8. The method of claim 5,

wherein identifying software components involves creating a set of compacted opcodes for the virtual machine;

and

wherein the compacted set of opcodes includes only opcodes specifically used by the application, thereby facilitating a more compact opcode representation.

9. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for synthesizing a scalable and incrementally updatable system software infrastructure for sensor networks, comprising:

receiving a specification for an application;

receiving a specification for target devices;

analyzing the specifications to identify a set of software components required to support the application; and

synthesizing a customizable software stack to accommodate the identified set of software components on a specified target device, thereby generating a minimal, resource-efficient software stack for a specific application on the specified target device.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises using the method for automatically synthesizing and scaling software environments for a given application across a variety of heterogeneous devices with varying resources and capabilities;

and

wherein scaling comprises identifying software components with enhanced or diminished capabilities tailored to a specific device type.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein synthesizing the customizable software stack involves using a sensor network topology and a device description to synthesize the customizable software stack for the specified target device.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the device description is used to define constraints for software components;

and

wherein the constraints are used to identify the software components.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein analyzing the specification involves identifying software components used to automatically generate a virtual machine, an operating system, and/or middleware for the specified target device.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the specific application is updated over time, and wherein the method further comprises:

tracking a set of application updates and the set of software components used by the specific application; and

generating incremental updates for the customizable software stack on the specified target device based on changes to the specific application.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein generating incremental updates for the customizable software stack on the specified target device involves changing and/or installing new software components for the specified target device.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein identifying software components involves creating a set of compacted opcodes for the virtual machine;

and

wherein the compacted set of opcodes includes only opcodes specifically used by the application, thereby facilitating a more compact opcode representation.

17. An apparatus that synthesizes a scalable and incrementally updatable system software infrastructure for sensor networks, comprising:

a receiving mechanism configured to receive a specification for an application;

a receiving mechanism further configured to receive a specification for target devices;

an analysis mechanism configured to analyze the specifications to identify a set of software components required to support the application; and

a synthesis mechanism configured to synthesize a customizable software stack to accommodate the identified set of software components on a specified target device, thereby generating a minimal, resource-efficient software stack for a specific application on the specified target device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is configured to automatically synthesize and scale software environments for a given application across a variety of heterogeneous devices with varying resources and capabilities;

and

wherein scaling a software environment involves identifying software components with enhanced or diminished capabilities tailored to a specific device type.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein synthesizing the customizable software stack involves using a sensor network topology and a device description to synthesize the customizable software stack for the specified target device.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein analyzing the specification involves identifying software components used to automatically generate a virtual machine, an operating system, and/or middleware for the specified target device.