Abstract: A system and method for operating application software in a safety critical environment have a data processor for effecting processing operations and an intermediate shell for interacting with an operating system and application software. A safety critical processor is receptive of a series of timing signals from the intermediate shell for determining that a time interval between two of the series of timing signals is greater than a predetermined value thereby constituting a potential safety critical failure and indicates a potential safety critical failure to the intermediate shell.

Abstract: A safety critical monitoring system and method for a microprocessor controlled embedded system has application specific program logic including a defined set of safety critical rules for the application system corresponding to criteria for safety critical operations to be performed by the central processing unit in accordance with the application specific program logic. The operating system or central processing unit is linked to the stored set of safety critical rules for verifying that the safety critical operations performed in accordance with the application specific program logic meet the criteria set by the safety critical rules.