Dependable Pervasive Systems

Present trends indicate that huge networked computer systems are likely to become pervasive, as information technology is embedded into virtually everything, and to be required to function essentially continuously. This report argues that even today\u27s (under-used) \u27best practice\u27 regarding the achievement of high dependability - reliability, availability, security, safety, etc. - from large networked computer systems will not suffice for future pervasive systems. It summarizes the current state of research into the four basic dependability technologies: (i) fault prevention (to avoid the occurrence or introduction of faults), (ii) fault removal (through validation and verification), (iii) fault tolerance (so that failures do not necessarily occur even if faults remain), and (iv) fault forecasting (the means of assessing progress towards achieving adequate dependability). It argues that much further research is required on all four dependability technologies in order to cope with pervasive systems, identifies some priorities, and discusses how this research could best be aimed at making system dependability into a \u27commodity\u27 that UK industry can value and from which it can profit