Method for generating computer software for embedded systems

A fuel management system for an internal combustion engine comprising:

• at least one sensor which provides an output signal representative of an engine condition,
• at least one controlled device which, in response to a signal, controls an aspect of operation of the engine,
• a programmable microprocessor having a BIOS for inputting signal(s) from said at least one sensor and for outputting signal(s) to said at least one controlled device, an application layer containing at least one program module which processes said input signal from the BIOS and generates output signals in response thereto through the BIOS to said at least one controlled device, and an operating system which schedules execution of said at least one program module in the application layer,
• wherein an interface between said BIOS, said application layer and said operating system is accomplished through a graphical user interface and without the need for hand program coding.

A computer software program for a microprocessor having a basic input/output system (BIOS) with at least one input/output channel, an application layer having at least one code module which processes input/output signals from an associated channel in the BIOS and an operating system (OS) which schedules the execution of events in the application layer comprising:

• means for using a graphical user interface (GUI) to select a channel(s) of the BIOS by functionality,
• means for using said GUI to select a program code module(s) in the application layer to process input/output signal(s) and associating said selected program code module(s) with at least one channel of the BIOS,
• means for using said GUI to schedule event processing in the OS,
• means for generating computer software in response to selections made in the GUI to interface the output from each selected channel of the BIOS with its associated program code module and to implement scheduled event processing in the OS, and
• means for storing all of said generated computer software in memory.