Certification of system architecture dependability

Abstract

Wireless systems are particularly vulnerable to failures and malfunctions for several reasons. First, wireless architectures are naturally distributed over a wide geographic area. Secondly, equipment pricing pressures prohibit massive fault-tolerance similar to that in the slowly deregulating wireline business. Thirdly, the responsibility for insuring dependable functioning of the systems is generally distributed among several independent collaborating entities (wireless equipment owners and leased lines providers). Fourthly, the access medium of wireless (RF) is much more vulnerable than the access medium of wireline (wire to the home).