A comparison of software and hardware monitors

Embedded system security is often compromised when "trusted" software is subverted to result in unintended behavior, such as leakage of sensitive data or execution of malicious code. Several countermeasures have been proposed in the literature to counteract these intrusions. A common underlying theme in most of them is to define security policies at the system level in an application-independent manner and check for security violations either statically or at run time. In this paper, we present a methodology that addresses this issue from a different perspective. It defines correct execution as synonymous with the way the program was intended to run and employs a dedicated hardware monitor to detect and prevent unintended program behavior. Specifically, we extract properties of an embedded program through static program analysis and use them as the bases for enforcing permissible program behavior at run time. The processor architecture is augmented with a hardware monitor that observes the program's dynamic execution trace, checks whether it falls within the allowed program behavior, and flags any deviations from expected behavior to trigger appropriate response mechanisms. We present properties that capture permissible program behavior at different levels of granularity, namely inter-procedural control flow, intra-procedural control flow, and instruction-stream integrity. We outline a systematic methodology to design application-specific hardware monitors for any given embedded program. Hardware implementations using a commercial design flow, and cycle-accurate performance simulations indicate that the proposed technique can thwart several common software and physical attacks, facilitating secure program execution with minimal overheads

The minitrack on experimental research is introduced. Types of approaches include trace-driven simulation, software monitoring, microcoded instrumentation, and hardware monitoring. Examples of each approach are discussed. The authors conclude with an assertion about the need for the coordinated use of experimental methods. >

This paper describes the research and implementation of ground source heat pump unit remote real-time monitoring system, researches in remote real-time monitoring system's overall design, hardware design, software design and implementation of OPC communication. The host computer takes advantage of the human-computer interaction interface of configuration software to achieve the remote real-time monitoring for ground source heat pump unit's running state; the lower computer uses data collector to intensively collect the data which is measured by field measuring instruments, and to achieve remote data transmission based on Ethernet, and then to carry out the communication between the host computer and the lower computer via OPC technology. The results show that the system achieves remote real-time monitoring of ground source heat pump unit, and is stable, easy to operate and provides a reliable basis for the actual energy saving effect's evaluation of ground source heat pump system.

The article is devoted to the development of information-measuring system for monitoring biotesting reactions, where the CCD is used as a line of photosensitive sensor. The article presents the structural and functional diagram of the system, the optical scheme of the radiation source. Experimental test data layout of the experimental setup is also described and presented the system with test graphic drawings.

Complex technical objects in modern society are extremely important. Such objects belong to the class of recoverable objects of long-term multiple used. They tend to be expensive and require significant maintenance costs. To ensure the required level of reliability during their operation, maintenance is usually carried out, the essence of which is the timely preventive replacement of elements that are in a pre-failure state, which is very important for military equipment. A characteristic feature of complex technical objects for special purposes (military equipment) is the presence in their composition of a large number (tens, hundreds of thousands) of different types components that have different levels of reliability, different patterns of their wear and aging processes. This feature requires a more subtle approach to the organization and planning of maintenance during operation (military equipment). The problem is that when developing such objects of military equipment, all issues related to maintainability and maintenance should be addressed already at the early stages of designing an object. If you do not provide in advance the necessary hardware and software for the built-in monitoring of the technical condition (TC) of the object, do not develop and “embed” the maintenance technology into the object, then it will not be possible to realize in the future a possible gain in the reliability of the object due to the maintenance. Since all these issues must be resolved at the stage of creating an object (when the object does not yet exist), mathematical models of the maintenance process are needed, with the help of which it would be possible to calculate the possible gain in the level of reliability the object due to maintenance, to estimate the cost costs required for this. Then, based on such calculations, make a decision on the need for maintenance for this type of objects and, if such a decision is made, develop the structure of the maintenance system, choose the most appropriate maintenance strategy, and determine its optimal parameters. In this paper, we develop a methodology for optimizing the parameters of the strategy for regulated maintenance of military equipment. The paper also confirms the general idea that the data obtained fully confirm assumption that the “adaptive maintenance” strategy is more preferable in the case of unreliable (inaccurate) information about the reliability indicators of the object’s elements.

Complex technical objects are understood as objects consisting of a large number of different types elements (tens, hundreds of thousands), each of which can represent a rather complex technical device. Elements can be electronic, mechanical, electromechanical, hydraulic, etc. The diversity of elements leads to the fact that for various elements fundamentally different physical processes (and, consequently, rates) of degradation are characteristic, leading to their failures. Objects can have an arbitrary reliability structure (as a rule, serial-parallel). The structural structure of such objects is usually hierarchical, that is, an object consists of subsystems, subsystems consist of units (cabinets), units - of devices (blocks), etc. A characteristic feature of complex technical objects for special purposes is the presence in their composition of a large number (tens, hundreds of thousands) of different types of component parts that have different levels of reliability, different patterns of their wear and tear processes. This feature requires a more subtle approach to the organization and planning of maintenance during their operation. The problem is that during the development of such facilities, all issues related to maintainability and maintenance should be addressed already at the early stages of facility design. If you do not provide in advance the necessary hardware and software for the built-in monitoring of the technical condition (TC) of the object, do not develop and “build” the maintenance technology into the object, then it will not be possible to realize in the future a possible gain in the reliability of the object due to maintenance. Since all these issues must be resolved at the stage of object creation (when the object does not yet exist), mathematical models of the maintenance process are needed, with the help of which it would be possible to calculate the possible gain in level of reliability facility due to maintenance, to estimate the cost costs required for this. Then, based on such calculations, make a decision on the need for maintenance for this type of objects and, if such a decision is made, develop the structure of maintenance system, choose the most acceptable maintenance strategy, and determine its optimal parameters. This paper provides a comparative study of various maintenance strategies. The paper also confirms that the optimal parameters of various maintenance strategies significantly depend on both the reliability and cost structure of object and the specified requirements for the level of reliability of object.

A characteristic feature of complex technical objects for special purposes is the presence in their composition of a large number (tens, hundreds of thousands) of different types component parts that have different levels of reliability, different patterns of their wear and tear processes. This feature requires a more subtle approach to the organization and planning maintenance in the course of their operation. The problem is that in the development of such facilities, all issues related to maintainability and maintenance should be addressed already at the early stages of facility design. If you do not provide in advance the necessary hardware and software for the built-in monitoring of the technical condition (TC) of the facility, do not develop and “build” the maintenance technology into facility, then it will not be possible to realize in the future a possible gain in the reliability of the facility due to maintenance. Since all these issues must be resolved at the stage of object creation (when object does not yet exist), mathematical models of the maintenance process are needed, with the help of which it would be possible to calculate the possible gain in the level of reliability facility due to maintenance, estimate the cost costs required for this. Then, based on such calculations, make a decision on the need for maintenance given type of objects and, if such a decision is made, develop the structure of the maintenance system, choose the most acceptable maintenance strategy, and determine its optimal parameters. The paper shows that the model for the regulated maintenance strategy is an improved version of the already known models and is introduced into the complex model for the purpose of comparative assessment of various maintenance strategies. In addition, it should be borne in mind that in practice, some cases, a regulated maintenance strategy may be preferable to MCC strategies.

One of the main concerns regarding flexible pipe integrity is its annulus condition, as a flooded annulus can lead to excessive corrosion and reduce fatigue life of the armor layers. The current approach to address this is to periodically perform a vacuum or pressure test to check the annulus integrity and to measure its gas-filled volume, in order to detect an accumulation of condensation water, or the ingress of sea water (Bondevik, 2004). These measurements are sometimes complemented by a continuous measurement of the flow rate of gas escaping the flexible riser's vent ports (MCS International, October 2002). The vacuum or pressure test is a costly operation, performed intermittently, while the conventional vent-gas monitoring does not provide reliable information on gas diffusion rates or water vapor emissions. To address these issues, TOTAL and Schlumberger have developed the subC-racs* riser annulus condition surveillance system for continuous monitoring of flexible riser integrity, which eliminates the need for vacuum tests. The gas that permeates the riser pressure sheath is depressurized while measuring its pressure, temperature, and flow rate. As in a well production test, the pressure drawdown and buildup curves are analyzed to give detailed information about fluid content and connectivity. The instrument's resolution and accuracy allow frequent calculations of gas diffusion rate and of the volume of liquid that may have entered the annulus, weekly, daily, or more frequently, depending on gas diffusion rate and riser parameters. In this paper we describe the measurement principle and hardware, modeling of the gas diffusion in the annulus compared with experimental results, and field test results on various risers in a West Africa field. Emphasis is placed on the measurement results, but the implementation in hardware and real-time software for alarms and remote monitoring is also shown. Introduction Monitoring of flexible pipe integrity is a main concern for all offshore fields. It has become more significant as the number of flexible risers increases, and as they age. The main issues for flexible risers are the status of outer sheath and the presence of water in the annulus due either to condensation or by damage to the outer sheath (Figure 1).

The destruction of the structure of over-compacted soils on the vibrating surfaces of the working bodies of chisel deep-diggers is a technological process that occurs faster and more efficiently than when moving the working bodies of chisels inside the bulk medium of deep-diggers in a calm state. Of great importance are the vibration modes exerted on the technological process, which allow reproducing vibrations of the specified amplitudes and at a high frequency of vibration vibrations of the vibration exciter transmitted to the active parts of the working bodies of chisel deep heaters. (Research Purpose) The research purpose is developing software, hardware and technical means for digital monitoring, automation and robotization of production and technological processes in the technologies of cultivation of grain crops. (Materials and methods) Used methods of analysis and modeling of the process. (Results and discussion) It was determined that the use of vibration vibrations for the destruction of anthropogenic over-compacted soil makes it possible to destroy dense fragments of soil and turn the structure of the destroyed soil into a fertile layer in which a developed root system is formed, suitable for obtaining high yields. It has been established that intensive technologies that transmit vibration vibrations to the active working organ of an agricultural machine by using an unbalanced mass in the vibration mechanism, intensively rotated inside the body of the vibration exciter from the external force of the tractor, excite vibration vibrations transmitted to the active working organs of chisel machines, which excite the vibration treatment of anthropogenically over-compacted soil. (Conclusions) It was revealed that among the intensive technologies that transmit vibration vibrations to the working body of an agricultural machine, it is necessary to include machines with NM that excite vibration vibrations transmitted to the working body that excites the vibration treatment of the processed technological medium. The calculated values of the converted NM average power were presented.

Instruction traces are useful tools for studying many aspects of computer systems, but they are difficult to gather without perturbing the systems being traced. In the past, researchers have collected instruction traces through various techniques, including single-stepping, instruction inlining, hardware monitoring, and processor simulation. These approaches, however, fail to produce accurate traces because they interfere with the processor's normal execution.Because processors are deterministic machines, their behavior can be predicted if their initial states and external inputs are known. We have developed a technique, called "CITCAT," which exploits this fact to generate nearly perfect instruction traces through trace-driven simulation. CITCAT combines the best features of instruction inlining, hardware monitoring, and processor simulation to produce long, accurate instruction traces without perturbing the system being traced. Because CITCAT instruction traces are computed, rather than stored, this hybrid technique delivers not just accurate traces, but also an extremely efficient trace compression algorithm.

Verification of today's Systems-on-Chip (SoC) occurs at low abstraction-levels, typically at register-transfer level (RTL). As the complexity of SoC designs grows, it is increasingly important to move verification to higher abstraction-levels. Hardware/software co-simulation is a step in this direction, but is not sufficient due to inaccurate processor models, and slow hardware simulation speeds. System-level monitoring commonly used for event-based software debugging, provides information about task scheduling events, inter-task communication and synchronisation, semaphores/resources, I/O interrupts, etc. We present MAMon, a monitoring system that can both monitor the logic-level and the system-level in single/multiprocessor SoCs. A small hardware probe-unit is integrated in the SoC design and connects via a parallel-port link to a host-based monitoring tool environment. The probe-unit collects all events in the target system in run-time, and time-stamps them with a resolution of 1 /spl mu/s. The events are then stored in a database on the host for further processing. The paper will describe MAMon and how it works for software and hardware monitoring. The paper also describe how system-level monitoring can be achieved non-instrusively by using a hardware-based real-time kernel.

A monitoring distributed system

Use of patient education and monitoring software in community pharmacies.

The objective of this paper is the description of the development and verification of a new, adaptive method of internal scheduling of resources, with the goal of the optimization of computer system performance. A general system effectiveness measure is defined which parametrically encompasses the prototypical system effectiveness measures to be considered. The adaptive internal scheduler then selects such tasks for resource allocation request fulfillment that a local system effectiveness measure, derived from the general measure, is optimized, leading to semi-optimization of the general measure. The adaptive scheduler functions, as a second-order exponential estimator. A predicator-corrector algorithm functions as the adaptive controller by varying the estimator's parameters and the time of application of the estimator in response to the nature of the sequence of deviations between the predicted and actual values of resource utilization. In order to validate the new scheduler, a workload description in the form of task profile distributions was gathered by a software monitor on the Georgia Tech B5700 running a live job stream. A simulator was developed to allow the comparison of the new scheduler with other nonadaptive schedulers shown to be good by various researchers, under various general system effectiveness measure prototypes. The simulators was validated by running it with the B5700 TSSMCP scheduler against the B5700 workload job profiles. Values resulting from the simulation checked against those of the measured B5700 system quite well. The results of other simulation runs show that the new adaptive scheduler is clearly statistically superior to other schedulers under most measures considered and is inferior to no other scheduler under any measure considered, at least in that environment. Only the new internal scheduler is described here.

Coiled tubing (CT) becomes oval during normal use due to plastic bending on the reel. This ovality significantly decreases the collapse resistance of the CT, and, in extreme cases, can restrict the passage of the CT through the surface equipment. During pumping operations, the internal pressure can cause the CT to balloon as it plastically deforms on the reel and guide arch. The increase in the CT diameter causes a corresponding decrease in the wall thickness. Both effects substantially weaken the CT's collapse resistance and decrease its working life. Some CT software can estimate the ballooning and its effects on collapse and working life. However, no models exist for predicting the ever-changing ovality of CT. A newly-developed tool can automatically measure the diameter and ovality of the tubing during actual CT operations. This real-time information is available to the CT operator for monitoring the status of the tubing and determining its suitability for continued use. Communications ports in the electronics module can feed the diameter data to a computer or data acquisition system for permanent storage or input to other monitoring software. P. 171