Purpose and Scope

Well over 95 percent of all microprocessors are now used for real-time and embedded systems. Increasingly, these systems are being networked together to form distributed real-time and embedded (DRE) systems. Many of these systems are mission-critical and are constrained by the physical world. We therefore need principled methods for specifying, programming, composing, integrating, and validating software for systems that can enforce the physical constraints and satisfy both quality of service (QoS) and functional requirements. Key research challenges include:

Determining how a myriad of real-world physical constraints can be integrated and satisfied simultaneously with multi-dimensional QoS and functional constraints when designing software, Identifying how hardware/software co-design can contribute to a solution, Examining the current levels of abstraction used in the development of real-time applications with a critical eye toward improving the usefulness of metrics and validation techniques, and Elevating the levels of abstraction at which software for real-time and embedded systems are developed and validated, including model-based software techniques, aspect-oriented programming, software component models, and QoS-enabled DRE middleware. The IEEE Real-Time/Embedded Technology and Application Symposium (RTAS) brings together real-time and embedded systems technology researchers and application developers from academia, industry, and government for discussions and technical exchanges. This program will consist of an exciting mix of invited addresses, tutorials, technical papers, and panels. We therefore invite papers and tutorial proposals in areas that are relevant to next-generation distributed, real-time, and/or embedded systems, including but not limited to the following topics:

• Real-time Linux and applications
• Real-time Java support and applications
• DRE middleware, e.g., Real-time CORBA and Distributed Real-time Java
• Secure real-time systems
• OS support for mixed response requirements
• Novel kernel-level mechanisms
• Open architectures for resource control
• Power-aware resource management
• Real-time software component models
• QoS-aware application design and patterns
• Real-time system modeling and analysis
• Embedded control applications

We welcome papers in all application areas (industrial automation, automotive, telecommunications, aerospace, multimedia, consumer electronics, etc.) including both research results and submissions presenting experiments, implementations, test beds, prototypes, novel mechanisms, and insightful experience reports. We plan a first-class venue for both academic and practitioners communities, with complementary tracks on enabling technologies and R&D experiences.

Submissions should be clearly marked as one of two categories:

• Research Papers that describe original and relevant work on enabling technologies or
• Experience Papers that report on lessons learned from prototypes of novel concepts, experiences with test beds and test cases, or reports gleaned from implementing particularly interesting real-time applications.

Experience papers may be less formal than traditional research papers, and will be given special consideration by the Program Committee.

We seek reports that contain well-supported claims and provide new insights to the readership at large. Papers are limited to 12 single-spaced pages (~5000 words) or less in length and should clearly identify the submission category. The best papers from the symposium may be considered for fast-track publication in IEEE Transactions. A best student paper award is planned for work conducted mainly by student(s) (a student must be first author).

Submissions should be made electronically in PDF format suitable for Acrobat Reader. Postscript with US Letter size pages will also be accepted.

For more information about the Symposium, please contact the General Chairs: Riccardo Bettati or Doug Locke . For information regarding conference submissions, please contact the Program Chairs: Greg Bollella or Doug Schmidt .