Both software and hardware engineers with a basic understanding of the C Language will benefit from this valuable Design Method and Finite State Machine Architecture for complex reactive real-time embedded software systems. The Staccato™ Crossroads SDK is also appropriate for embedded system program managers, in that it provides guidelines for the entire software development process, including important design documentation that will ensure successful validation and verification. A working knowledge of the C programming language is recommended to fully comprehend the material presented within the courseware. Both courses provide numerous C-language examples of Staccato™'s unique implementation of the classic Mealy-Moore Finite State Machine paradigm. Also, the C source-code for Staccato™'s unique 'executive' is introduced, as well as how to encode task state machine processes using Staccato™'s API.

• Guidelines for your embedded systems software documentation: the SRS and SDD
• How to partition your embedded system software into application tasks
• How to design the application tasks as finite state machines, and how to encode them into your modules
• How to use the Staccato™ System Core and System Calls (API)
• How to accommodate common scenarios such as 'common states within a task', and how multiple related tasks can utilize the same process code (FSM).
• How to design and build a Graphical User Interface
• Understanding how Staccato's FSM architecture inherently provides for excellent real-time performance
• Understanding how Staccato's FSM architecture provides for effective testing, validation and verification

• Embedded Systems in Industry - Learn the basic design principles of Embedded Systems as they are found in various industries.
• State Diagrams - Learn how to use these powerful concepts to analyze and design both abstract and physical systems using classic Mealy-Moore finite state logic. Includes many C-language examples which will help you master the skill of developing State Diagrams for your embedded software system.
• Staccato™ System Core - Learn how the 'executive' executes the state machine program for each task. Includes a complete description, with source code examples, of the executive, the system timer, inter-task communication and system calls. Learn how to effectively encode your tasks' state machines.
• Staccato™ Design Method - Learn the important processes involved in developing a safe and effective Embedded System product. From start to finish, this process covers the importance of effective documentation of Product Specifications, Software Requirements, Test Plans , Software Design, and Validation and Verification. Because of the superior design architecture inherent in Staccato™, these processes become an assurance of success.
• How to Get Started - Learn how to start using the Staccato™ Design Method immediately.

Course 2 expands on the concepts introduced in Course 1, with emphasis on useful Design and Coding Guidelines. Upon completing this second course, you will have learned everything needed to implement the Staccato™ Design Method and Architecture in your current embedded system project.

• Review of Important Concepts from Course 1 - Review of the Design Process, the System Core, Coding of Task State Diagrams and System Core Files
• Partitioning the System - Learn how to partition your embedded system into application tasks. General Purpose I/O Matrix, The Control Task, Multiple Processor Architecture, including examples of architectures with proper partitioning of tasks.
• How to Accommodate 'Common States' in State Diagram Designs - Learn how Staccato™ cleverly addresses this commonly occurring aspect of State Machine design.
• Multiple Tasks - Single Process - Learn two design methods that will allow multiple related tasks to use the same process state machine code.
• How to Design a GUI for your Embedded System - Learn how the Staccato™ Design Method simplifies the implementation details of a Graphical User Interface. Learn how to use Look-Up-Tables (LUTs) effectively for graphic objects and screens. Includes much detail of the tasks involved in responding to user mouse/touchscreen input, with examples.
• System Calls API - Learn how to use each of the provided 'system calls' in your task state machine encodings, with source code and state diagram examples.
• Testability - Learn how the inherent structure of the Staccato™ architecture will simplify test and debug.
• System Performance - Presents a meaningful discussion of your embedded system software performance using Staccato™.

The Demo App was developed using OpenWatcom C Compiler / IDE and the Fastgraph Light for DOS graphics library which are available as free downloads from their respective websites.

Fastgraph Light for DOS

by Ted Gruber Software, Inc

OpenWatcom Compiler / IDE

The Staccato™ Demo App Main Screen contains some graphic objects that are typical of some embedded systems applications. The scrolling graph displays simulated data acquired from an ADC representing both the raw and filtered data from a pressure transducer. An overpressure warning and audio track and gauge are associated with the filtered data signal. A color patch cycles through the RGB components and traffic signals for four intersections are included. All of these components demonstrate specific Finite State Machine task activities as covered within the courseware.

The Staccato™ Demo App Metrics Screen provides basic performance metrics of the application while in the Main Screen. Note the excellent real-time performance that can be achieved by architecting embedded software as a 'system of directly and continuously-executed Finite State Machine-encoded tasks' using Staccato™; no RTOS required!

The Demo App is included in the SDK to provide you with a 'hands-on' experience with designing and coding Finite State Machines and to explore the capabilities of the Staccato™ concepts presented in the two IEEE-CEU Certified courses.

All Demo App C Language source-code and documentation are included on CD 3 of the Crossroads SDK.