A Hybrid Approach for Multi-attribute QoS Optimisation in Component Based Software Systems

Abstract

Abstract. Design decisions for complex, component-based systems impact multiple quality of service (QoS) properties. Often, means to improve one quality property deteriorate another one. In this scenario, selecting a good solution with respect to a single quality attribute can lead to unacceptable results with respect to the other quality attributes. A promising way to deal with this problem is to exploit multi-objective optimization where the objectives represent different quality attributes. The aim of these techniques is to devise a set of solutions, each of which assures a trade-off between the conflicting qualities. To automate this task, this paper proposes a combined use of analytical optimization techniques and evolutionary algorithms to efficiently identify a significant set of design alternatives, from which an architecture that best fits the different quality objectives can be selected. The proposed approach can lead both to a reduction of development costs and to an improvement of the quality of the final system. We demonstrate the use of this approach on a simple case study.

Software Architecture Optimization Methods: A Systematic Literature Review

“…Performance (84) ADL(4) [145], [160], [161], [170], ANY(2) [133], [153], CUSTOMAM(5) [90], [152], [196]- [198], OPTIMPL(3) ALLOCATION(20) [61], [83], [88], [121]- [123], [133], [153], [155], [160], [161], [164], [175]- [178], [186], [187], [192], [214], CLUSTERING(3) [67], [122], [214], COMPONENT SELECTION(12) [7], [18], [96], [97], [147], [149], [160], [161], [177], [178], [182], [232], HARDWARE PARAMETERS(2) [160], [161], HARDWARE REPLICATION(29) [31], [51]- [57], …”

“…Performance(84) EXACT PROBLEM-SPECIFIC(3) [1], [112], [126], EXACT STANDARD(14) [12]- [15], [42]- [44], [69], [117], [169], [174], [218], [236], [241], GENERAL(1) [153], METAHEURIS-TIC(45) [2], [3], [23], [29], [32], [35], [38]- [40], [45], [46], [66], [73], [77], [83], [84], [88], [114], [122]- [124], [130], [133], [141], [143], [145], [160], [161], [170], [175]- [177], [188], [189], [196]- [198], [200], [220], …”

Automatic optimisation of system architectures using EAST-ADL

“…One such tool is PerOpteryx, which is based on the Palladio modelling environment [MA1,KR1]. PerOpteryx allows for the automatic optimisation of software architecture models, developed with Palladio using the Palladio Component Model (PCM), on the basis of four main quality dimensions: cost, reliability, maintainability, and performance.…”

Graph modelling of a refactoring process for Product Line Architecture design

“…In Figure 9 only the painting extension, component e, has been shown to illustrate this aspect. There are tools that support the partial automation of the presented sub-processes [16], [23], [24], [26], [27], however a complete automation is still difficult to achieve; the final selection of architectural solutions is generally provided by the architect [15], [23], [24]. …”

“…More recent works [23], [24] propose the automation of the trade-offs step, based on multi-objective optimization, where objectives represent different quality attributes. The HAM (Hybrid Assessment Method) [9] is based on multicriteria concepts and techniques for trade-offs analysis, in an architecture assessment process; however, quality standards are not used.…”