Semi-formal and formal interface specification for system of systems architecture

Abstract

The independence of the constituent systems of a system of systems presents a key challenge to the discipline of system of systems (SoS) engineering. The fact that constituent systems can and do function independently of the SoS means that engineers of a constituent system cannot rely on the behaviour of other constituent systems. This paper advocates a modelbased approach to SoS engineering that requires the interfaces to constituent systems to be specified. We propose an use of an interface design pattern for interface specification that uses the industry standard notation, SysML. We also indicate a translation of these specifications to a formal notation, CML, in order to extend the range of analytic techniques available to the SoS engineer.

2.2.2 Maintaining Emergence in Systems of Systems Integration: a Contractual Approach using SysML

“…This has much in common with the Design by Contract (DbC) software engineering technique (Meyer 1988), used to constrain software operations. In previous work, we have considered the role of nonfunctional properties and DbC in architectural interfaces (Payne and Fitzgerald 2010) and in (Bryans, Payne et al 2013) we show how interfaces in SysML can be translated into CML. Related work in this area including service-oriented computing and component-based software techniques such as system integration, is surveyed more comprehensively in (Bryans, Payne et al 2013).…”

“…In previous work, we have considered the role of nonfunctional properties and DbC in architectural interfaces (Payne and Fitzgerald 2010) and in (Bryans, Payne et al 2013) we show how interfaces in SysML can be translated into CML. Related work in this area including service-oriented computing and component-based software techniques such as system integration, is surveyed more comprehensively in (Bryans, Payne et al 2013). (Mordecai and Dori 2013) also aim to develop a model-based approach to the design of interfaces and interactions among disparate systems.…”

“…Not all views are required when modeling SoS interfaces; in this paper, we use only the ICV, IDV and PDV. In previous work, we proposed interface definitions as a way of dealing with CS independence and SoS integration (Bryans et al 2013). However, the interface definition is limited to scenarios, protocols, and operation signatures.…”

“…In this section we show how the SysML model may be described in the formal modeling notation CML, following the approach to translation taken in (Bryans, Payne, et al 2013). We go on to show how the resultant model may be used to aid analysis.…”

SysML contracts for systems of systems

“…Several notations have been developed for defining system architectures. In [8] we survey this area more comprehensively, with particular emphasis on the support for the rigorous definition of interface specification. We use SysML in this paper primarily due to its increased use in industry.…”