Analytic Model for Optimal Checkpoints in Mobile Real-time Systems

It is not practically feasible to apply hardware-based fault-tolerant schemes, such as hardware replication, in mobile devices. Therefore, software-based fault-tolerance techniques, such as checkpoint and rollback schemes, are required. In checkpoint and rollback schemes, the optimal checkpoint interval should be applied to obtain the best performance. Most previous studies focused on minimizing the expected execution time or response time for completing a given task. Currently, most mobile applications run in real-time environments. Therefore, it is extremely essential for mobile devices to employ optimal checkpoint intervals as determined by the real-time constraints of tasks. In this study, we tackle the problem of determining the optimal inter-checkpoint interval of checkpoint and rollback schemes to maximize the deadline meet ratio in real-time systems and to build a probabilistic cost model. From this cost model, we can numerically find the optimal checkpoint interval using mathematical tools. The performance of the proposed solution is evaluated using analytical estimates.