IS ZC424 (EC-2 Regular) Page 1 of 2

Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani

Distance Learning Programmes Division
Second Semester 2008-2009

Comprehensive Examination
(EC-2 Regular)

Course No. : IS ZC424
Course Title : SOFTWARE FOR EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
Nature of Exam : Open Book
Weightage : 60%
Duration : 3 Hours
Date of Exam : 05/04/2009 (FN)
Note:
1. Please follow all the Instructions to Candidates given on the cover page of the answer book.
2. All parts of a question should be answered consecutively. Each answer should start from a fresh page.
3. Mobile phones and computers of any kind should not be used inside the examination hall.
4. Use of any unfair means will result in severe disciplinary action.

Consider a software systems that controls the traffic signals at an intersection. The traffic
signals are installed at an intersection of four sections of perpendicular roads (south to
north and west to east). The roads are two way, and there are two lanes on each side.
Vehicles that want to turn to the left at the intersection reach the intersection in the
leftmost lane and are allowed to turn left at all times. Traffic going straight ahead and
wanting to turn right needs to wait for the right signal. There are red, amber and green
signals that indicate the status for going straight ahead. There are also the corresponding
arrow signals for turning right. Vehicles wanting to turn right are expected to arrive in the
right most of the two lanes in their section of the road.

The signals work in two modes timed and sensed. In the timed mode, the signals allow
the north-south traffic to go straight for an interval of time, then the north-south traffic is
allowed to turn right for an interval, then the east-west is allowed to go straight, and then
the east-west is allowed to turn right.

In the sensed mode, the signals use sensors embedded in the road to sense the presence
and movement of vehicles. In this mode, the go straight phase is followed by the turn
right phase only if there are vehicles waiting to go right in the correct lane. Otherwise, the
north-south go straight phase is followed by the east-west go straight phase. The duration
of the phases is also adjusted according to the traffic rate.

The signals begin working in the sensed mode in the morning, when the traffic is light
and erratic. The traffic density is monitored, and when it reaches a certain density, the
system switches over to the timed mode. After that the signals stay in that mode until
11pm in the night . After that the signals switch back to the timed mode provided the
traffic density is below the threshold.

The system also accommodates priority for emergency vehicles. These vehicles have an
infrared signaling device mounted on top, which communicates with the signal control
system. The signal control system senses the request and changes the signals in favor of
the emergency vehicle, ignoring the usual next phase.

No. of Pages = 2
No. of Questions = 6

IS ZC424 (EC-2 Regular) Page 2 of 2
IS ZC424 (EC-2 Regular) Second Semester 2008-2009 Page 2


Q.1 Name the main use cases. State the goal of each clearly. Give the text. [10]

Q.2 Identify the classes of objects in the case stated above. Name some attributes and
behavior of the objects. Identify the active objects using the correct stereotypes.
[10]

Q.3 In the context of the objects identified, describe the stateful behavior of the system.
Identify the states and draw the statecharts. [10]

Q.4 Describe the concurrency of the system using an activity diagram. [10]

Q.5 Discuss the various time scales that are relevant to the application. What are the
resource related stereotypes and the concurrency related stereotypes that are
applicable here? [10]

Q.6 Draw the sequence diagrams for the typical scenarios of the main use cases. apply
the stereotypes from the RTUML profiles where possible. [10]

********