Error Handling for Large-Scale Software Systems

Our proposed Phase I effort is to characterize, in a formal framework, the enabling methods and technologies required for error handling operations. The theoretical base offered in our approach provides a rich framework and comprehensive design and analysis space encompassing the range of fault/error models. A set of fault detection and isolation principles will be established and notation with an associated group of approaches developed for extending, modifying, augmenting or interfacing to various system elements techniques in large-scale software architectures. The concept of error containment regions enables specification and analysis properties to be put in place which can be evaluated and measured. The approach develops a framework that can be communicated to designers and users to make the error handling process more efficient and improve policy decisions. With these concepts in place, it is possible to construct fault tolerant systems from intolerant components. The approach is consistent with the use of custom designs or integrated COTS products and software repositories.