We propose to investigate, design and prototype capabilities of a vertically integrated environment called TimeVault for the design, analysis, and execution of high assurance real-time systems. Different real-time applications can be mixed and matched within or across processors. High assurance will be provided by an abstraction called "vaults": the misbehavior of an application group (unintentional or otherwise) will be guaranteed not to damage other applications. First, a guaranteed worst-case analysis framework extending classical real-time scheduling theory will be the first critical step in this high-payoff approach. Secondly, these analyses will be incorporated as extensions to a commercial real-time schedulability analysis tool. Thirdly, network support will be added for guaranteeing end-to-end timing requirements within closed but distributed networked systems like avionics systems, missile defense systems, battleship control systems and carrier fleet systems. Fourthly, a commercial real-time operating system will be extended to support and enforce the time- and space-protection properties of the "vault" abstraction. Finally, TimeVault will permit the behavior of each application in the distributed target execution environment to be viewed from a single monitoring location. TimeVault will enable application components from legacy environments, multiple development sources, component libraries, etc. to be combined yet with significant reduction in testing and integration costs.
