Dependability of Networked Computer-based Systems

The measurement of dependability attributes on real systems is a very time-consuming and costly affair, making analytical or simulation modeling the only viable solutions. Dependability of Networked Computer-based Systems explores reliability, availability and safety modeling of networked computer-based systems used in life-critical applications such as avionics, nuclear power plants, automobiles and chemical process industries.

Dependability of Networked Computer-based Systems gives an overview of basic dependability modeling concepts and addresses new challenges in dependability modeling of networked computer-based systems, as well as new trends, their capabilities and limitations. It covers a variety of dependability modeling methods:

• stochastic processes,
• Markov and semi-Markov models,
• response-time distribution,
• stochastic Petri-net-based modeling formalisms, and
• Monte Carlo simulation models.

Dependability of Networked Computer-based Systems provides students and researchers with a detailed overview of dependability models and analysis techniques. Practicing engineers will also find this text a useful guide to decision-making based on system dependability at the design, operation and maintenance stages.

1. Introduction.- 2. Probability Theory.- 3. Stochastic Processes and Models.- 4. Dependability Models of Computer-based Systems.- 5 Network Technologies for Real-time systems.- 6. Response-time Models and Timeliness Hazard Rate.- 7. Dependability of Networked Computer-based Systems.

Prof. Ajit Kumar Verma
He is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, with a research focus on reliability engineering and quality management. He was the Director of the International Institute of Information Technology, Pune, India from August 2009 to September 2010. He has over 200 papers in journals and in conference proceedings. He is the Editor-in-Chief of OPSEARCH (published by Springer) and of the International Journal of Systems Assurance Engineering and Management (also published by Springer). He is on the editorial boards of various international journals. He has been a guest editor of IJRQSE, IJPE, CDQM, IJAC, etc., and has supervised 25 PhDs. His area of research is reliability and maintainability engineering.

Prof. Srividya Ajit
She has been with IIT Bombay since 1988 and is currently a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering with a research focus on reliability in engineering design, structural reliability and environmental effects on system reliability. Over 50 of her papers have been published in various national and international journals, and over 100 have been part of national or international conferences. She has also co-authored books titled Fuzzy Reliability Engineering: Concepts and Applications and Reliability and Safety Engineering published by Springer. She was conference chairperson of the International Conference on Reliability, Safety & Hazard 2005 (Advances in Risk Informed Technology), for which she also edited the proceedings; the International Conference on Quality, Reliability and Infocom Technology 2006; and the International Conference on Reliability, Safety and Quality Engineering 2008 (for which she also edited the proceedings). She has been instrumental in editing and reviewing the proceedings of various international conferences, such as the International Conference on Quality Reliability and Control 2001, the International Conference on Multimedia and Design 2002, and the International Conference on Quality Reliability and Information Technology 2003. She is a recipient of SREQOM's Leadership in Reliability Engineering Education & Research award.

Dr. Manoj Kumar
He has been working as Scientific Officer at Control Instrumentation Division of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India, since 1998. He has been associated with the design and development of embedded/computer-based control systems for critical applications. He is also actively involved in dependability modeling and analysis of these systems. He has around 15 papers in journals and in conference proceedings.