Catalogue of Methods and Processes for System Family Engineering from the
Esaps Project

Günter Böckle, Marion Wittmann

 

1.    Methods for Phase 1: System Family Scoping

Name

Scoping

Topic

General description of scoping, references to methods and tools. More detailed description in Esaps E2.2b.

Process phases

1, 2, 7, 8

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects

Result

Domain description, product portfolio

Input

Domain analysis, market analysis

Short description

Scoping is the process of identifying and bounding the focus of development for reuse in product line development.

  • Product line scoping is the process of systematically developing a Product Portfolio Definition. A Product Portfolio Definition is a description of the specific requirements and the individual products that should be part of the product line.
  • Domain scoping is the process of identifying appropriate boundaries for a domain which is relevant for implementing systems in the product line.
  • Asset Scoping is the process of identifying the various elements that should be made reusable, i.e., the specific assets that should be part of the reuse infrastructure as opposed to being developed application specific.

Bosch, Fraunhofer IESE, and Siemens address the planning phase of product lines, University of Karlskrona/Ronneby and University of Groningen the evolution of scope over time.

Interesting points

Using the approach we have a means of evaluating the cost (i.e., additional/ saved effort, time-to-market, etc.) of developing a certain feature using a product line approach versus using a one-at-a-time approach. This is done and graphically depicted using a so-called product map. A product map is a table that consists of a list of features, structured into domains on the vertical axis and a list of the products along the horizontal axis.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Fraunhofer IESE (ed.), Robert Bosch GmbH, Siemens AG, University of Karlskrona/Ronneby, University of Groningen

Deliverable

Esaps CWD1.2.4: "Scoping"

Esaps E2.2b: "A Method for Scoping Software Product Lines From a Functional Point of View"

 

 

Name

Quality models for asset scoping

Topic

Quality models for product lines, enabling the evaluation of reusable assets, as basis for the optimisation of the asset scope

Process phases

1, 2

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers

Result

Product map

Input

Quality requirements, information about assets

Short description

The quality models building the base for the PuLSE Eco scoping approach. A quality is modelled as a function of a feature, together with its development context and the product context. This is extended for product lines and used as basis in the product line map where the quality values are used to define the products of the product line.

Interesting points

The development situation can be taken into account.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Fraunhofer IESE

Deliverable

Esaps CWD1.3: "Aspect Analysis and Modeling", section 3.1 "IESE - Using Aspects to Scope the Product Line"

 

 

Name

SPLIT : Software Product-Line Integrated Technology

Topic

1. Requirements description and categorisation

2. Aspect analysis for requirements specification

3. Configuration and deployment onto an execution platform

4. Prototype for System family engineering, based on COTS tools

Process phases

All

Complexity

Medium-high

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers

Result

a) Requirements description; b) Configuration and deployment of SW components to infrastructure; c) Tool infrastructure, based on COTS

Input

a) Features, unstructured and vague requirements; b) Component and infrastructure description; c) Input for tools

Short description

a) Categorisation and separation of requirements: functional vs. non-functional, capabilities (operational services) vs. forces (non-functional services).

b) How to map SW components to SW infrastructure (OS, libraries, business frameworks)

c) Realisation with tools, based on COTS (DOORS, Rational Rose)

Interesting points

How to find, structure, classify and represent the assets built during requirements engineering in SPLIT - Software Product-Line Integrated Technology - from LCAT, the common laboratory of Alcatel and Thales (Thomson-CSF).

To detailed description Requirements (a))  To detailed description Deployment (b)) To detailed description tools (c))

Owner / participants

Alcatel, Thales (LCAT)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.2.1: "System Family Requirements Classification and Formalisms" (a))

Esaps CWD1.3: "Aspect Analysis and Modeling"; section 2.1: "Thales - Air Supervision Systems: aspect analysis"; section 2.2: "Alcatel - Switch Maintenance Systems: aspect analysis"

Esaps CWD2.3 "Platform and components, section "Configuration and deployment onto an execution platform" (b));

Esaps CWD2.3 "Platform and components, section "Wrapping existing components of switch maintenance systems"

Esaps CWD2.3 "Platform and components, section "Development support prototype for system families based on COTS" (c))

Esaps CWD3.1: "Requirements Modelling and Traceability", section 4: "Requirement traceability support"

 

 

Name

Feature analysis

Topic

Identification, processing and description of features

Process phases

1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10

Complexity

Low

Audience

Product managers, architects

Result

Feature model, part of domain model

Input

Market analysis, product (family) expertise

Short description

Feature analysis can be used as basis of scoping, e.g. in the PuLSE approach (IESE). Features (user-visible product properties) are early indicators for variability. Specific views are essential for feature-based domain analysis (HUT). Configurations of features, mapped to realisation concepts are used as basis for product definition during scoping (Siemens). Feature interactions (dependencies between features) are identified using coloured Petri nets (Nokia).

Interesting points

Features are the basic elements for defining what products shall constitute the family (scooping). So, feature analysis is essential for scoping. Feature interactions can be vary costly to resolve - so identifying them early can save a lot of money.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Fraunhofer IESE, Helsinki University of Technology (HUT), Nokia, Siemens

Deliverable

Esaps CWD1.2.3: "Feature Analysis"

 

 

2.     Methods for Phase 2: System Family Economical Analysis

No Methods defined in Esaps for this phase of the process.

3.    Methods for Phase 3: Domain System Analysis / Design

Name

Conceptual domain analysis

Topic

Description of conceptual domain analysis, modelling techniques, and process; 3 case studies

Process phases

3, 4, 5

Complexity

Low

Audience

Product managers, marketing

Result

Domain model

Input

Market analysis, stakeholder information

Short description

Introduction: In CWD 1.2.1, definitions and descriptions, purpose and role; overview and comparison of existing domain engineering methods.

Conceptual domain analysis: The process in which the concepts relevant for a domain are identified, defined, and organised together with their mutual relationships, in order to facilitate a precise and concise description of the domain.

The conceptual domain model is the basis for design; there is no general notation - FODA, UML, mind maps, text are used.

Case studies: Two from the medical domain: requirements object model and object model for persistent data that are shared between systems or services. One from telecommunications: terminology and features

Bosch, Fraunhofer IESE, and Siemens address the planning phase of product lines, University of Karlskrona/Ronneby and University of Groningen the evolution of scope over time.

Interesting points

Three practical examples for a still fuzzy topic.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Philips, Alcatel

Deliverable

Esaps CWD1.2.1: "Introduction to Domain Analysis";

Esaps CWD1.2.2: "Conceptual domain analysis"

 

 

Name

Domain engineering methods

Topic

Description, analysis, and comparison of domain engineering methods

Process phases

3, 4, 5

Complexity

Low

Audience

Product managers, architects

Result

Domain model

Input

Market analysis, stakeholder information

Short description

All domain engineering methods (16) available in literature are described, analysed and compared

Interesting points

Detailed, thorough description and comparison of domain engineering methods

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Bosch

Deliverable

Esaps CWD1.2.1: "Introduction to Domain analysis", section 5 "Overview of existing domain engineering methods"

Esaps E2.1d: "Domain Engineering Problem Analysis: An Overview of Methods Supporting Product Line Development / Domain Engineering - Problemanalyse"

 

 

Name

Software architecture assessment + metrics

Topic

Description of SW architecture assessment techniques + EPOC assessment report + Architecture Metrics + Architecture assessment with SAA

Process phases

3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11

Complexity

Small

Audience

Architects

Result

Architecture assessment report + Experience from EPOC assessment + Architecture assessment at Siemens with SAA

Input

An existing architecture

Short description

Architecture assessment methods like SAAM, ATAM, and others are described. Ideas how to evaluate system family architectures are presented. An experience report of an assessment of the EPOC operating systems (used for mobile phones) and software architecture metrics are presented (Blekinge Institute).

A detailed description of the architecture assessment method SAA from Siemens is presented in E2.2f.

Interesting points

Real assessment experience report

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Nokia, Ericsson, Blekinge Institute of Technology (Metrics, section 7)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD1.1: "Architecture Analysis and Modelling", sections 3 - 5, 7

Esaps E2.2f: "Methode für die Bewertung von Familienarchitekturen"

 

 

Name

Architectural mismatches analysis

Topic

Assessment guidelines for detecting architectural mismatches during systems composition

Process phases

3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects, designers

Result

List of architectural mismatches: sources of future errors

Input

Architectures of components, e.g. COTS or in-house

Short description

Architectural mismatches are inconsistencies between two or more constraints of different architectures being composed. The existence of architectural mismatches can seriously hinder any large-scale reuse effort. A pragmatic approach to detect such mismatches is presented.

Interesting points

One example throughout the whole paper. Real pragmatic approach.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Fraunhofer IESE

Deliverable

Esaps CWD1.1: "Architecture Analysis and Modelling", section 6 "Architectural Mismatches Analysis"

EsapsE2.2a: "Assessment Guidelines for Detecting Architectural Mismatches"

 

 

Name

Requirements engineering for system families + Architectural synthesis + Change propagation

Topic

Analysis of commonality, variability and volatility in the requirements specifications

Process phases

3, 4, 5

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects

Result

Requirements model

Input

Features, unstructured and vague requirements

Short description

Structuring requirements in definition hierarchies - from abstract to more concrete goals. The requirement properties and views on requirements are considered.

Meta model for product-line requirements defined. Also relations between functional and non-functional properties are considered.

The work is extended to architectural synthesis in CWD2.2.3, section 8. An architecture is created by making decision about qualities; these decisions correspond to design increments that are linked to increments in the requirements model. A case study is presented.

In CWD 3.2 change propagation and work amount assessment on basis of this approach are presented.

Interesting points

The definition hierarchiy models can be generalized and applied for many purposes

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Helsinki University of Technology (HUT)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.2.1: "System Family Requirements Classification and Formalisms", section 3 "HUT - Requirements engineering for system families"

Esaps CWD2.2.3: "Style, structures and views for handling commonalities and variabilities", section 8 "Architectural synthesis (HUT)"

Esaps CWD3.2: "Change Management and Evolution Support" section 4.1 "Change Propagation and Work Amount Assessment"

 

 

Name

Reference requirements for product lines: an example of the medical domain

Topic

A class model for the requirements of the medical domain, with all variations for all products

Process phases

3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects

Result

Requirements model, specification structure

Input

Features, unstructured and vague requirements

Short description

A class model  describes the requirements domain of the entire product family under study, including all variation in the entities identified. The class model is used as a common vocabulary to describe the requirements. The requirements are stored in the System Requirements Specification. Functional requirements are mapped to use cases in the Functional Requirements Specification.

Interesting points

A huge variation over products with a long life span is supported

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Philips

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.2.1: "System Family Requirements Classification and Formalisms", section 4.1 "Philips - Reference requirements for product-lines: an example of the medical domain"

 

 

Name

Reference requirements of switch maintenance

Topic

Application of the SPLIT method on operations, administration and maintenance for standards like UMTS, GSM, GPRS, Edge

Process phases

3, 4, 5

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers

Result

Detailed list of assets of the OAM domain for telecommunication switches

Input

Existing OAM system

Short description

The LCAT approach (SPLIT) provides a requirements hierarchy in order to have a general view of the requirements (marketing) , and then more and more detailed views (technical requirements). This hierarchy facilitates the traceability between each level of requirements. It separates the development of the business requirements (functional requirements) and the constraints (non-functional requirements). This facilitates the construction of the architecture. It introduces variability at each level of requirements in order to facilitate the systematic re-use of the requirements. See also #SPLIT.

An example how to wrap existing component models (in UML) for reuse is given for switch maintenance systems in CWD2.3: "Platform and components"; section "Wrapping existing components of switch maintenance systems"

Interesting points

Detailed description of major functional and non-functional assets, capabilities, forces and relations between them in the communication switch domain.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Alcatel

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.2.1: "System Family Requirements Classification and Formalisms", section 4.2 "Alcatel - Reference requirements of switch maintenance"

Esaps CWD2.2.3: "Case studies and lessons learned (Alcatel)", section 9 "Case studies and lessons learnt (Alcatel)"

Esaps CWD2.3: "Platform and components"; section "Wrapping existing components of switch maintenance systems"

 

 

Name

Reference requirements of air supervision systems

Topic

Application of the SPLIT method on air supervision systems

Process phases

3, 4, 5

Complexity

Low - medium

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers

Result

Categories of requirements and their attributes for the domain of air supervision systems

Input

Existing air supervision system

Short description

In the experiment requirements of an air supervision system are identified, categorised and analysed, variability of requirement assets (identification of type of variability, notation, expression rules, parameters, realisation, and usage in the decision model), and traceability between all the requirement assets (identification of type, notation and usage) are analysed. See also #SPLIT.

Interesting points

Only 3 types of variability have been identified; 45 percents of the capabilities are variable, and only 8 percents of atomic requirements are variable (50 percents optional and 50 percents partial).

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Thales (former Thomson-CSF)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.2.1: "System Family Requirements Classification and Formalisms", section 4.3 "Thomson-CSF - Reference requirements of air supervision systems"

 

 

Name

Aspect-driven development

Topic

Handling complexity by structuring a system along a secondary decomposition according to aspects (cross-cutting features like qualities, initialisation, error handling)

Process phases

4, 5

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects, designers

Result

Multi-level system decomposition and structuring

Input

Requirements, quality attributes

Short description

Quality attributes are used to get additional views on the system, these are then mapped on aspects which form a secondary decomposition structure of the system, allowing also re-use of these substructures.

Interesting points

Good, practice-oriented approach to manage complexity - allows re-use of assets for cross-cutting aspects.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Philips

Deliverable

Esaps CWD1.3: "Aspect Analysis and Modeling", section 2.3 "Philips - Aspect Driven Development"

 

 

Name

QuESt - Quality evaluation and synthesis of structures

Topic

Rapid architecting: functional decomposition and architecture synthesis

Process phases

3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects

Result

System decomposition and architecture sketch, metrics evaluating the architecture concepts.

Input

Requirements, features

Short description

Functionalities required from the products are used together with operational scenarios to provide benefits for the customer. Functionalities are grouped to build solution concepts; the solution concepts are evaluated with metrics.

Interesting points

Quantitative approach using metrics, not just guesswork (like usually).

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Siemens

Deliverable

Esaps CWD1.3: "Aspect Analysis and Modeling", section 3.2 "Siemens - Aspect guided functional decomposition"

Esaps E2.1c: "Concept for the adaptation of QuESt for Product Family Engineering / Konzept für die Adaption des Ansatzes MoVE für Produktfamilienentwicklung"

 

 

Name

Method guidance

Topic

Use-case driven method guidance process

Process phases

All

Complexity

Small

Audience

Architects, designers

Result

Process  for applying design methods

Input

Use cases

Short description

A method guidance supports engineers performing the actions of the various development steps of the engineering process. A use-case-driven method guidance process, together with templates for use cases, and an example for use-case driven change integration are provided.

Interesting points

Template for use cases; example use cases for change management

To detailed description

Owner / participants

University of Essen

Deliverable

Esaps E1.2a: Intentional and contextual process modelling language for defining method guidance / Kontextbasierte Modellierungssprache für die Definition der Methodenfragmente

Esaps CWD2.1.1: "System family process frameworks", section 10: "Process support for product family engineers"

 

 

Name

Trace capture

Topic

Scenario-centred trace structuring

Process phases

3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11

Complexity

Medium - low

Audience

Architects, designers, testers

Result

Trace structure

Input

Use cases

Short description

Not all design information can be traced because of the complexity. Therefore, information to be traced is restricted depending on its intended usage. This selection is performed with scenarios. See also #Method guidance

Interesting points

Meta models for use cases, use case scenarios, architecture configuration and architecture scenarios with their interrelations

To detailed description

Owner / participants

University of Essen

Deliverable

Esaps E1.2b: "Anleitung für projekt- und produktspezifische Traceaufzeichnung"

Esaps CWD3.1: "Requirements Modelling and Traceability", section 5: "Product and Project Specific Trace Capture"

 

 

Name

Trace usage guide

Topic

How to use trace information for change integration

Process phases

All

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects, designers, testers

Result

Trace structure

Input

Use cases

Short description

Reuse of recorded trace information with change patterns for consistent change integration. Each change situation is specified by goals. See also #Trace capture

Interesting points

The information relevant to describe and integrate changes is neatly specified and captured. Detailed examples.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

University of Essen

Deliverable

Esaps E1.2c: "Goal-driven reuse of experience, Guide for traceability usage / Anleitung für Traceverwendung"

Esaps CWD3.2: "Change Management and Evolution Support" section 4.2 "Scenario-based Change Integration"

 

 

Name

Traceability between meta model elements

Topic

Traceability from domain characteristics to architecture components

Process phases

3, 4

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects

Result

Trace structure

Input

Meta models

Short description

In meta models, traceability is a relation between model elements

Interesting points

Integrated in PuLSE

To detailed description

Owner / participants

IESE

Deliverable

Esaps E2.2e: "Methode für die Verfolgbarkeit von Domänencharakteristika zu Architekturkomponenten"

Esaps CWD3.1: "Requirements Modelling and Traceability", section 6: "Traceability from Domain Characteristics to Architectural Components"

 

 

Name

Introduction to change management

Topic

Introduction to change management - process and categories

Process phases

1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers, tester

Result

Items affected by change, change management process (activities etc.)

Input

Traceability structure

Short description

The different kinds of changes and change management are described, as well as system evolution and the difference between change management and evolution.

Interesting points

Comprehensive introduction

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Siemens

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.2: "Change Management and Evolution Support", section 1: "Introduction"

 

 

Name

Architecture evolution

Topic

Architecture transformations in an evolving software product line - case studies + Architecture evolution process

Process phases

3, 5, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects

Result

Problems and lessones learned from 2 case studies + viewpoints relevant for change management

Input

Architecture, experience

Short description

  • The experiences from 2 case studies: storage servers (from Axis) and billing gateways for telephony (from Ericsson) are analysed. The different kinds of changes are categorized  and analysed, lessons learned and evolution guidelines deducted.

  • Changes are categorized w.r.t. origins and aspects for business, architecture, process, and organization. Roadmapping, release planning and efficiency are considered.

Interesting points

Consideration of the non-technical aspects

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Blekinge Institute of Technology (University of Karlskrona/Ronneby), Philips

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.2: "Change Management and Evolution Support", section 2.1: "Architecture Transformations in an Evolving Software Product Line" + section 2.2 "Evolution of system family architectures"

 

 

Name

Change management for requirements and reuse objects

Topic

Change management process for changing requirements in product family specifications and reuse objects in a reuse repository

Process phases

3, 4, 5, 9, 10,11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers

Result

Change management processes

Input

Requirements, information about reuse objects

Short description

  • The activities of the process for changing system-level requirements in product family specifications and the propagation of changes for parallel developments are described

  • Roles and activities for the process of changing reuse objects in a reuse repository are described.

Interesting points

Detailed process activity descriptions

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Siemens

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.2: "Change Management and Evolution Support", section 3.1: "Change Impact Analysis and propagation techniques"

Esaps E1.2f: "Change Impact Analysis and Propagation Techniques / Entwicklung von Verfahren zur Analyse und Verfolgung von Änderungen"

 

 

Name

Change management for parallel projects

Topic

Change management activities for parallel projects for products of the same family

Process phases

3, 4, 5, 9, 10,11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers

Result

Change management process activities, synchronisation activities

Input

Requirements,specifications of parallel projects

Short description

Solutions to the problems: when to copy specs from one project to another (in the same product family); when and how to merge such specs.

Interesting points

Important for big product families and product populations

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Philips

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.2: "Change Management and Evolution Support", section 3.2: "Change Management for Working in Parallel Projects"

 

 

Name

Cost of change requests in a system product program

Topic

How to determine the cost of change requests based on a committment traceability network

Process phases

3, 4, 5, 9, 10,11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects

Result

Overall cost of change requests

Input

Committment traceabiltiy network, individual costs

Short description

Based on the committment traceability network,  the overall cost for realizing a change request can be determined by evaluating the individual costs.

Interesting points

Important for complex product families

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Nokia

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.2: "Change Management and Evolution Support", section 3.3: "Cost of Change Requests in a System Product Program"

 

 

Name

Logistic Issues in change management

Topic

Change management from a logistic viewpoint

Process phases

3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Designers, deployers, maintenance

Result

Activities and support for change management from logistic viewpoint

Input

Logistic information

Short description

Based on the organisation of SW as supply chain of production environments, all logistic information is stored and used to retrieve, based on traceability, the relevant information. See also the variability representation of software logistics.

Interesting points

These two contributions are the only ones where the logistic viewpoint is presented

To detailed description

Owner / participants

SERC

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.2: "Change Management and Evolution Support", section 4.3: "Logistic Isues in Change Management"

 

 

Name

Information models

Topic

Information models as basis for method development

Process phases

All

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects, Designers

Result

Descriptions of the items   and assets we handle and their relations

Input

Basic understanding of the domains

Short description

For coordinating their method development efforts and mutual usage of their results the German partners developed information models with the major submodels: requirements meta model, decision meta model, architecture meta model, design elements meta model.

Interesting points

The major items and their interrelations are described.

No detailed description

Owner / participants

Siemens, Fraunhofer IESE, University of Essen, Bosch

Deliverable

Esaps E4: "D-ESAPS Information Models"

 

 

4.    Methods for Phase 4: Domain Analysis

Name

Asset management

Topic

Analysis, classification, description and administration of assets and their dependencies

Process phases

All

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects, designers

Result

Asset classifications, asset descriptions, asset retrieval methods in asset repositories

Input

Asset data

Short description

All kinds of work products may be assets; it is described how assets of the different process phases can be classified, structured, and described; how their relations are identified and described, and how they can be retrieved in an asset repository. See also #Design-Management.

Interesting points

Detailed description, easily extendable, can be mapped to other domains.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Bosch

Deliverable

Esaps E3.1b: "Product Line Asset Classification and Dependency Specification / Kategorisierung von Asset-Typen innerhalb des Produktlinien- Entstehungsprozesses sowie Definition und Evaluierung typspezifischer Klassifikationen"

Esaps E3.2c: "On the Definition of Requirements for Managing Product Line Asset Repositories / Anforderungen an die Verwaltung und Analyse von Produktlinien-Assets"

Esaps CWD3.3: "System-Family Variant Configuration and Derivation", section 2.1: "Product Line Asset Classification and Management"

 

 

Name

Nokia product line process framework

Topic

The Nokia Product Line Process Framework (PLPF) is a model that introduces a product line and reuse approach to the product creation processes used in Nokia's Business Units

Process phases

All

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Project managers, managers

Result

Process description with activities, roles, etc.

Input

Process know-how

Short description

The Nokia product line process framework is described with subprocesses, and their purposes, inputs, work products, and roles

Interesting points

Lessons learned

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Nokia

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.1.1: "System family process frameworks", section 2: "Nokia Product Line Process Framework (PLPF)"

 

 

Name

Fraunhofer IESE PuLSE process (ProdUct Line Software Engineering)

Topic

PuLSETM is a method for enabling the conception and deployment of software product lines within a large variety of enterprise contexts

Process phases

1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Project managers, managers

Result

Process description with activities, roles, etc.

Input

Process know-how

Short description

The PuLSE framework is described with subprocesses, and their purpose, inputs, work products, and roles

Interesting points

Lessons learned

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Fraunhofer IESE

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.1.1: "System family process frameworks", section 3: "Fraunhofer IESE PuLSE"

 

 

Name

Philips Research product family process framework

Topic

The Philips Research Product Family Process Framework (PRPFPF) employed at Philips Electronics for development of software intensive electronics products

Process phases

All

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Project managers, managers

Result

Process description with activities etc.

Input

Process know-how

Short description

The Philips Research Product Family Process Framework (PRPFPF) represents Philips Research’s generalisation and description of processes, methods and other best practices employed at Philips Electronics for development of software intensive electronics products. It is described with its processes and procedures.

Interesting points

Iteration through the 5 views

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Philips

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.1.1: "System family process frameworks", section 4: "Philips Research Product Family Process Framework (PRPFPF)"

 

 

Name

Sainco & UPM: RUP and RSEB union

Topic

A combination of the processes RUP (Rational Unified Process) and RSEB (Reuse-oriented Software Engineering Business)

Process phases

All

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Project managers, managers

Result

Process description with activities etc.

Input

Process know-how

Short description

RUP and RSEB are combined for a generic approach for a product line process. That is incremental and iterative, use case driven and architecture centric; and, like RUP, repeats over a series of cycles, where each one concludes with a release of the product. Each cycle consists of four phases: inception, elaboration, construction and transition.

Interesting points

Combination of two well-known quasi-standard processes

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Telvent (Sainco) and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.1.1: "System family process frameworks", section 5: "Sainco & UPM: RUP and RSEB union"

 

 

Name

SPLIT / WHEELS (in the LCAT context)

Topic

The process framework for the SPLIT (Software Product Line Integrated Technology) from Alcatel and Thales, developed by LCAT

Process phases

All

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Project managers, managers

Result

Process description with activities etc.

Input

Process know-how

Short description

The process framework WHEELS for SPLIT is described with its processes, and fore each the activities, tasks, inputs and outputs as provided by the common laboratory of Alcatel and Thales (LCAT)

Interesting points

Detailed and structured description

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Alcatel, Thales (Thomson-CSF)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.1.1: "System family process frameworks", section 6: "Alcatel SPLIT/WHEELS (in the LCAT context)"

 

 

Name

Siemens incremental development process

Topic

The incremental development process for single products and for product families at Siemens

Process phases

All

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Project managers, managers

Result

Process description with activities etc.

Input

Process know-how

Short description

The incremental process is a cyclic model where in each cycle a further feature or level of the system is developed. Independent development groups work in parallel on different variants or versions of a product, using particular synchronisation mechanisms.

Interesting points

Lessons learned

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Siemens

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.1.1: "System family process frameworks", section 7: "The Incremental Development Process for Product Families at Siemens"

Esaps E1.2e: "Process Components in an Incremental Environment for Product Families"

 

 

Name

ESI: R-SPICE

Topic

The reuse-oriented SPICE process framework extension based on the standard ISO/IEC 15.504

Process phases

All

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Project managers, managers

Result

Process description with activities etc.

Input

Process know-how

Short description

ESI’s R-SPICE integrates domain engineering and application engineering in the standard ISO/IEC 15.504 (SPICE – Software Process Improvement Capability Determination) process model. The resulting model is called Reuse-SPICE (R-SPICE, for short) and it is a SPICE-compliant extension of the basic ISO/IEC 15.504 model.

Interesting points

Combination with capability levels; detailed process descriptions

To detailed description

Owner / participants

European Software Institute (ESI)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.1.1: "System family process frameworks", section 8: "ESI R-SPICE"

 

 

Name

Introduction to traceability

Topic

An introduction to requirements traceability

Process phases

All

Complexity

Low

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers

Result

Knowledge about traceability

Input

 

Short description

The different kinds of traceability are explained, its application and usage in the process, and its place in a conceptual requirements engineering model

Interesting points

Comprehensible, comprehensive and short introduction

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Philips (referring to University of Essen)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.1: "Requirements Modelling and Traceability", section 1: "Introduction"

 

 

Name

Modelling concept for product families

Topic

A methodology for modelling requirements and other artefacts in product family engineering to support traceability

Process phases

1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers

Result

Requirements model with trace links; traces from features/requirements to components and back

Input

Requirements, features

Short description

To manage complexity, the model is separated into submodels: one for the family as a whole and one for each product in the family. Each submodel is structured in the same way, containing a document model, a requirements model, and a system model. The document model encompasses all documents imported and generated for the particular product or the family as a whole. The requirements model contains the common requirements (for all products in the family) in case of the product family submodel, the product-specific requirements in the other cases. The system model encompasses the architecture model, version model, and realisation model.

Interesting points

Support for parallel design groups and specific traceability support.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Siemens

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.1: "Requirements Modelling and Traceability", section 2: "Modeling Concept for Product Families"

Esaps E1.2d: "Modelling concept for product families / Vorgehensweise zum Erstellen von Modellen für die Repräsentation von Requirements, Systemarchitekturen und daraus abgeleiteten Produkten einer Produktfamilie"

 

 

Name

Traceability between system variants and reused components

Topic

The traceability mechanisms applied at Philips Medical for legal and business purposes

Process phases

3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers

Result

Traceability tables for forward, backward, horizontal, and vertical traceability

Input

Requirements and design specifications

Short description

Requirements are tagged to support traceability horizontally (from a requirement to the corresponding test requirement) and vertically (from a requirement to its refinement or a coarser preceding requirement). Forward and backward traces are supported. The tags, together with information about the corresponding modules, are stored in allocation tables that are used for tracing.

Interesting points

Practice-oriented method, not hard to implement. Requirements for traceability tool support

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Philips

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.1: "Requirements Modelling and Traceability", section 3: "Traceability between System Variants and Reused Components"

 

 

Name

Requirements traceability support and SPLIT

Topic

Introduction to requirements management and traceability and the approach in SPLIT

Process phases

3, 4, 9, 10

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers

Result

Traceability support in SPLIT

Input

Requirements and features

Short description

Requirements management, traceability management and change management are described and the approach for them in SPLIT/Cloud. There, traceability is also used for product derivation.

Interesting points

Traceability approach in SPLIT

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Alcatel (and Thales)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.1: "Requirements Modelling and Traceability", section 4: "Requirement traceability support"

 

 

Name

Traceability-based decision support

Topic

Proposal for a commitment traceability network for identifying the persons/roles who have a responsibility in a system development program

Process phases

3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers

Result

Commitment traceability network

Input

Responsibilities, commitments

Short description

For supporting a true end-to-end change management in complex multisite, multipartner, multiproject systems development programs: all persons having committed resources to a complex system program have to be identified to agree and comment to changes. A commitment traceability network is proposed.

Interesting points

Integration in processes

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Nokia

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.1: "Requirements Modelling and Traceability", section 7: "Commitment Traceability Model for System Programs"

 

 

Name

COTS assessment

Topic

Applying the COTS acquisition process CAP to requirements engineering methodologies and to MoRE/SLATE

Process phases

3, 4, 9, 10

Complexity

Low

Audience

Architects, designers

Result

Assessment of COTS for certain requirements

Input

Information about COTS

Short description

A process and method for the assessment of COTS (components off the shelf) is customized to assess requirements engineering methods/tools. This customized assessment is then applied to the MoRE/Slate method and tool.

Interesting points

A pragmatic, easily usable assessment method.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Siemens

Deliverable

Esaps E5.1a: "Applying the COTS Acquisition Process (CAP) to Requirement Engineering Methodologies"

Esaps E5.1b: "Applying the COTS Acquisition Process (CAP) to evaluate the MoRE Methodology"

 

 

5.    Methods for Phase 5: Domain Design

Name

A method for module architecture verification and its application on a large component-based system

Topic

Checking whether the implicit module architecture of a system is consistent with its specified module architecture.

Process phases

5, 11

Complexity

High

Audience

Designers

Result

List of violations

Input

System documentation (architecture specification) and code

Short description

Use architectural rules to verify that the specified and the actual architectures conform.

Interesting points

A real-life example with 3 MLOC of different programming languages is used.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Philips

Deliverable

Esaps CWD1.1: "Architecture Analysis and Modelling", section 10 "A Method for Module Architecture Verification and its Application on a Large Component-Based System"

 

 

Name

Handling commonalities and variabilities - UML-based techniques - Fraunhofer IESE-approach

Topic

How to model product family reference architectures with UML, with special emphasis on commonalities and variabilities

Process phases

3, 4, 5

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects, designers

Result

Commonalities and variabilities of an architecture

Input

Requirements, features

Short description

Variabilities are so diverse that categorisation by level of abstraction is not possible (by binding time, however). A dedicated presentation style is used, based on the "Optional" stereotype and tagged values with references to the decision model.

Interesting points

No extension to standard UML is necessary. The decision model is used.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Fraunhofer IESE

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.2.3: "Style, structures and views for handling commonalities and variabilities", section 2: "UML-based techniques (IESE)"

Esaps E2.2d: "System Family Architecture Description and Representation / Methode zur Ableitung konkreter Produktar-chitekturen aus einer Referenzarchitektur"

 

 

Name

Handling commonalities and variabilities - UML-based techniques - Nokia-approach

Topic

A hierarchical framework (from higher level to lower level: reference architecture – family architecture – lead product architecture and normal product architecture) for architecture design and description to cover the architectures of the entire generation of Nokia mobile phone products

Process phases

5, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects

Result

Commonalities and variabilities of an architecture

Input

Requirements, features

Short description

Steps and artefacts:

  • Defining and describing the reference architecture for the generation of Nokia mobile phones.
  • Defining and describing the family architecture for each product family.
  • Designing the lead product architecture of a product family.
  • Product architecture which is copied from the lead product and adapted to the specific product requirements.

Interesting points

Hierarchical architecture framework for a family with lots of product variants.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Nokia

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.2.3: "Style, structures and views for handling commonalities and variabilities", section 3 "UML based techniques (Nokia)"

 

 

Name

Handling commonalities and variabilities - UML-based techniques - Philips-approach

Topic

A component framework for architectures in the medical imaging domain

Process phases

5, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects

Result

Component framework for an architecture

Input

Requirements, features

Short description

Code reuse has shown to be not feasible; therefore a platform is being built consisting of a predefined set of components with well-defined relations between them, which includes all generic behaviour. Variation of the medical imaging platform can be done in two ways:

  • Configuration, the platform components used and their parameterised behaviour can be set to match the desired functionality of the derived product;
  • By extension through well defined interfaces, in which the specific behaviour of the derived product is implemented in a separate component which can be coupled to the platform

Interesting points

Architecture description close to implementation for easier instantiation

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Philips

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.2.3: "Style, structures and views for handling commonalities and variabilities", section 4  "UML based techniques (Philips)"

 

 

Name

Handling commonalities and variabilities - UML-based techniques - Thales-approach

Topic

Describing software product line architectures - Daisy approach (part of SPLIT)

Process phases

5, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects

Result

Reference architecture description for the whole product line, with variabilities

Input

Requirements, features

Short description

For each architectural view, architectural perspectives are defined for specific stakeholders; variability is modelled with variation points and product line patterns, using decision models

Interesting points

Thorough approach as part of a systematic framework (SPLIT); mapping between requirements (in SPLIT/CLOUD) and architecture (SPLIT/DAISY)

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Thales (former Thomson-CSF)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.2.3: "Style, structures and views for handling commonalities and variabilities", section 5 "UML based techniques (Thales)"

 

 

Name

Handling commonalities and variabilities - UML-based techniques - UPM-approach

Topic

Modeling variability with UML

Process phases

5, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects, Designers

Result

UML model of variability - for most possible cases

Input

UML elements

Short description

The various variability mechanisms are listed, guidelines how to use them, and for many UML assets the proper extension mechanisms to model variability

Interesting points

Shows directly how the various UML assets can be extended for variability

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.2.3: "Style, structures and views for handling commonalities and variabilities", section 6 "UML based techniques (UPM)"

 

 

Name

Handling commonalities and variabilities - ADL-Darwin-based techniques - EESI-approach

Topic

Modelling variability with Darwin as an ADL

Process phases

5, 11

Complexity

High

Audience

Architects, designers

Result

Darwin-model of product family architecture

Input

Requirements, domain-know-how

Short description

Darwin is used to model the client-server middleware for a family of web-controllable embedded systems

Interesting points

Darwin seems well suited for architecture modelling in this domain; however, all other partners chose UML for architecture modelling.

No detailed description

Owner / participants

Eindhoven Embedded Systems Institute (EESI)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.2.3: "Style, structures and views for handling commonalities and variabilities", section 7 "ADL-Darwin based techniques (EESI)"

 

 

Name

Petri nets for aspect evaluation

Topic

Using coloured Petri nets to evaluate aspects (reliability, performance) by simulation and formal analysis

Process phases

4, 5, 10, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects, designers

Result

System model and model analyses w.r.t. particular aspects, e.g. performance or fault tolerance

Input

Architecture description (UML)

Short description

Based on the general architecture description, an execution architecture model for one or more particular aspects (e.g. reliability or performance) is built with coloured Petri nets and evaluated through model analysis and simulation.

Interesting points

One of the few (may be the only one) methods for aspect evaluation beyond guesswork

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Nokia

Deliverable

Esaps CWD1.3, "Aspect Analysis and Modeling", section 3.3 "Nokia - Formal Method to Evaluate Aspects (reliability, performance) by Simulation and Formal Analysis"

 

 

Name

Portability

Topic

Portability - an example for variability in the hardware platform

Process phases

4, 5

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects, designers

Result

Architecture description with variabilities for portability to different hardware platforms

Input

System requirements, environment information

Short description

The variability necessary in the architecture for porting a system to different hardware platforms is described

Interesting points

Practical application

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Telvent (SAINCO)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.3, "Platform and Components", section "Deployment of a component-based system family for SCADA systems requiring variability in their physical architecture"

 

 

6.    Methods for Phase 6: Domain Implementation

Name

Analysing the evolution of large OO-systems using metrics

Topic

Find out how components develop in versions over time and systems

Process phases

5, 6, 11, 12

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Designers, implementers

Result

Metrics, statistics of component properties

Input

Database of SW components

Short description

  • gain an overview of the system evolution

  • qualify the parts of a system in terms of their stability over the versions

  • identify system components which could be reused in other systems

  • identify the migration of components between system parts

  • identify components that have appeared or disappeared over the life-cycle of the system

  • check if components keep on interacting properly and according to the design

based on the identification of source code artefacts over several versions of the same system.

Interesting points

 

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Nokia

Deliverable

Esaps CWD1.1: Architecture Analysis and Modelling, section 8 "Analyzing the Evolution of large OO-systems using metrics"

 

 

Name

Reverse architecting

Topic

Extraction of software architecture models from the system implementation.

Process phases

5, 6

Complexity

High

Audience

Designers, implementers

Result

Architecture of legacy components

Input

Code of SW components

Short description

The process for reverse architecting:

1. Definition of architectural concepts
2.
Extraction of the source code model
3. Abstraction

4. Improvement of architecture documents
5. Analysis of extracted architecture
6. Architectural reorganisation of source code

An example from mobile phones is used to describe the steps. Lessons learned are provided.

Interesting points

Used at Nokia for reusing existing mobile phone SW for future product lines.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Nokia

Deliverable

Esaps CWD1.1: "Architecture Analysis and Modelling", section 9 "Reverse Architecting"

 

 

Name

Component model

Topic

Asset-based meta model of software components for product derivation

Process phases

5, 6, 11, 12

Complexity

Low - medium

Audience

Architects, designers

Result

Component description

Input

Information about architecture and components

Short description

A meta model of SW components, for the activities from design specification to delivery. It allows composition, splitting and refinement of components. Approach for reusing parts of the component-based development, allowing COTS with variability as building blocks.

Interesting points

Specific packaging for development with reuse

To detailed description

Owner / participants

LCAT: Thales, Alcatel

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.3, "Platform and Components", section "Product-Line Software Components"

 

 

Name

Component and interface annotations

Topic

Using semantic interface annotations to find the right components and use them adequately

Process phases

4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12

Complexity

High

Audience

Designers, implementers

Result

Component interface description

Input

Information about components

Short description

Associating semantic information with components to select the best suited components for composing a product and to employ the components adequately. Message sequence chart are used.

Interesting points

The amount and granularity of annotations can be selected according to the users' needs.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Siemens

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.3, "Platform and Components", section "Semantic Component and interface annotations"

Esaps E3.1a: "Requirements and Techniques for Component Description and Design Management Methods / Problemcharakterisierung und Anforderungsspezifikation für die Methodik"

Esaps E3.2a "Requirements and Techniques for Component Interface Description and Component Selection / Komponentenbeschreibung und bewertungsgestützte Auswahl"

 

 

Name

Components as parts of a platform

Topic

How to describe components, interfaces and information models as main parts of a platform

Process phases

5, 6

Complexity

Low

Audience

Designers, implementers

Result

Component and interface descriptions

Input

Information about components

Short description

A platform is described as consisting of components with clearly defined interfaces, some of which have associated information models describing the semantic of the data exchanged.

Interesting points

Experiences with the approach are provided

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Philips

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.3, "Platform and Components", section "Components, Interfaces, and Information Models"

 

 

Name

Components - real-time behaviour specification

Topic

Platform-neutral specification of real-time behaviour and logical specification of functionality of components

Process phases

5, 6, 11, 12

Complexity

High

Audience

Designers, implementers

Result

Component interface descriptions

Input

Information about functional and real-time behaviour of components

Short description

Incorporation of timing constraints specifications in statechart and interaction diagrams

Interesting points

Algebraic calculus of components is provided

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Eindhoven Embedded Systems Institute (EESI)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.3, "Platform and Components", section "Specification of functional and real-time behaviour of components"

 

 

Name

Component - automatic configuration

Topic

Automatic component configuration by program specialisation

Process phases

6, 12

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Implementers

Result

a) Extended code (for genericity); b) generated code specialisation

Input

Code + declarations about variations

Short description

Declaration language for describing the configurability of components; component configuration by specialsation of the described generic components.

Interesting points

Can easily be integrated into C++ code

To detailed description

Owner / participants

INRIA Rennes (IRISA)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.3, "Platform and Components", section "Component Description and Configuration"

Esaps CWD3.3: "System-Family Variant Configuration and Derivation", section 3.2: "Configuration Techniques for Product-Line Components"

 

 

Name

Component platforms

Topic

Variability and commonality in component platforms

Process phases

5, 6, 11, 12

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects, implementers

Result

Variability description in component platforms

Input

Platforms

Short description

Functional and quality properties of components in platforms are described, as well as dependencies among components. Explicit representation of variabilities of component interfaces at different platform layers allows a variety of products in the product family for reduced cost.

Interesting points

Examples.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.3, "Platform and Components", section "Assessment of platforms for CBD and domain related services characterisation"

 

 

Name

Component description

Topic

How to describe components and their attributes in a platform

Process phases

5, 6, 11, 12

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Designers, implementers

Result

Component attributes description in component platforms

Input

Component property information

Short description

Solutions to problems like description of component functionality, deployment, interfaces etc. are provided.

Interesting points

Well-readable presentation.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Nokia

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.3, "Platform and Components", section "Problem Analysis of Component-based Development"

 

 

Name

OO framework composition

Topic

How to compose OO frameworks - identification of major problems

Process phases

5, 6, 11, 12

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Designers,  implementers

Result

Solutions for OO-framework composition problems

Input

OO-frameworks

Short description

In component-based product family engineering OO frameworks may be product line assets. When composing them to create SW, a series of problems arises. These problems are identified and solutions proposed.

Interesting points

Well-structured representation of problems and causes

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Blekinge Institute of Technology (University of Karlskrona / Ronneby)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD2.3, "Platform and Components", section "Object-oriented Frameworks as Product Line Architecture Components - Integration Problems"

 

 

7.    Methods for the Derivation Phases

In ESAPS, only few methods for the application engineering subprocess have been developed. Therefore, those were grouped into this chapter.

 

Name

Intelligent retrieval of domain assets

Topic

How to find the best-suited assets to derive a product (design management)

Process phases

9 - 12

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Designers, implementers

Result

Component annotations, requirements for tools and tool interconnection

Input

Design know-how

Short description

Assets are represented as objects with annotations characterising their behaviour so that for a set of requirements the appropriate assets can be retrieved. Proposal for the interconnection of tools supporting design management.

Interesting points

Tool requirements and tool-chain interconnection proposal

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Siemens

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.3, "System-Family Variant Configuration and Derivation", section 2.2: "Intelligent Retrieval of Domain Assets"

Esaps CWD2.3: "Platform and Components", section "Requirements and Techniques for Derivation Support in Tool-chains", section 3

Esaps E3.2a "Requirements and Techniques for Component Interface Description and Component Selection / Komponentenbeschreibung und bewertungsgestützte Auswahl", section 3.

Esaps E3.3a "Methods for Component Description and Selection / Komponentenbeschreibung und Architekturbewertung zur Komponentenauswahl", section 3

 

 

Name

Variant configuration and derivation support

Topic

Variability representation and resolution in SPLIT/Cloud and SPLIT/Ladder

Process phases

7 - 12

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers, implementers

Result

Variability description

Input

Requirements, architecture

Short description

The description of variation points and the process of requirements variability capturing and description in SPLIT/Cloud are described, the description of variability with the decision model in SPLIT/Daisy, and the representation of variability in Ladder, the software component development method of SPLIT.

Interesting points

Various variability representations and how they fit together

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Thales

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.3, "System-Family Variant Configuration and Derivation", section 3.1: "Variant configuration and derivation support"

 

 

Name

Variability representation techniques

Topic

The notion of variability in software product lines

Process phases

3-6, 9-12

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers

Result

Variability description on several abstraction levels

Input

Features, architecture

Short description

Variability occurs on all development levels - and on all levels it has to be described. This contribution presents variability description methods and demonstrates them with an example.

Interesting points

Different representation levels; example.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

University of Groningen

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.3, "System-Family Variant Configuration and Derivation", section 3.3: "On the notion of variability in software product lines"

 

 

Name

Software logistics

Topic

Feature-driven software logistics

Process phases

5, 6, 10, 11, 12

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, deployers, maintenance

Result

Variability description and resolution from a logistic viewpoint

Input

Features, logistic information

Short description

Software logistics deals with the storage, administration, distribution and installation of software artefacts. Variability representation and resolution from a logistic viewpoint are described, together with properties and problems of late binding. See also Change management from a logistic viewpoint.

Interesting points

These two contributions are the only ones where the logistic viewpoint is presented

To detailed description

Owner / participants

SERC

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.3, "System-Family Variant Configuration and Derivation", section 3.3: "Feature-Driven Software Logistics (SERC)"

 

 

Name

MoVE - Selection, derivation, and parameterisation of variants

Topic

Using model-based value engineering (MoVE) for product derivation

Process phases

7, 9, 10, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers

Result

Product architecture

Input

Reference architecture, reusable assets, features, requirements and values for goodness criteria

Short description

Based on product features and requirements, configurations of products are proposed and selected based on evaluations of goodness criteria like cost/benefit

Interesting points

The configuration of products is based on the evaluation of goodness criteria, not just experience and guesswork

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Siemens

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.3, "System-Family Variant Configuration and Derivation", section 4.2: "Selection, Derivation, and Parameterisation of Variants (Siemens)"

Esaps E2.1b: "Concepts for the Adaptation of MoVE for Product Family Engineering / Konzept für die Adaption des Ansatzes MoVE für Produktfamilienentwicklung"

Esaps E2.2g: "System Architecture Identification / Methode für die Definition von Familienarchitekturen"

Esaps E2.2h: "Selection, Derivation and Parameterisation of Variants / Methode für die Entscheidungsunterstützung für die Definition von Produktfamilien"

 

 

Name

Product derivation with SPLIT

Topic

Product derivation with SPLIT - decision model and constraint propagation support

Process phases

7, 9, 10, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Product managers, architects, designers

Result

Product architecture

Input

Reference architecture, reusable assets, requirements and decision model

Short description

Based on the requirements model and the decision model (built with SPLIT/DAISY), variabilities are resolved, application models generated and products configured. See also the other descriptions of SPLIT

Interesting points

SPLIT is a systematic methodology, covering the whole product-family engineering process

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Thales (LCAT)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.3, "System-Family Variant Configuration and Derivation", section 4.3: "Decision Model and Constraint Propagation Support (Thales)"

 

 

Name

Product instantiation case study

Topic

Problems and issues associated with the product instantiation in software product lines

Process phases

9, 10, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects, designers

Result

Product architecture

Input

Reference architecture, reusable assets

Short description

In a case study some major problems of product derivation are identified and solutions proposed. These are e.g. problems like features spanning over mulitple components, excluding component features, etc.

Other results of this case study are in #Architecture-evolution

Interesting points

Case study

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Blekinge Institute of Technology (University of Karlskrona/Ronneby)

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.3, "System-Family Variant Configuration and Derivation", section 4.4: "Product Instantiation in Software Product Lines"

 

 

Name

Derivation process

Topic

A generic product derivation process based on a decision model

Process phases

9, 10, 11

Complexity

Medium

Audience

Architects, designers

Result

Product architecture

Input

Reference architecture, reusable assets, decision model

Short description

A detailed description of the activities, roles, etc. of the steps of the product derivation process.

Interesting points

Detailed description; the results of the economic analysis are used.

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Ivorium Software

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.3, "System-Family Variant Configuration and Derivation", section 4.5: "A Generic Engineering Process for Derivation "

 

 

Name

Requirements for tools

Topic

Requirements for tools and tool chains, mostly for requirements engineering and design

Process phases

3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11

Complexity

Low

Audience

Architects, designers

Result

Tool requirements

Input

Knowledge about requirements engineering and design, experience

Short description

Some sets of requirements for tools for product line engineering are presented, mostly for requirements engineering and design, but also for product derivation

Interesting points

Combined requirements from Alcatel and Siemens

To detailed description

Owner / participants

Alcatel, Siemens

Deliverable

Esaps CWD3.3, "System-Family Variant Configuration and Derivation", section 5.1: "Tools Requirements and Prototype of Application Engineering Development Platform based on COTS (ALCATEL and SIEMENS)"

 

 

 

8.    Documents Considered for Esaps

This section lists the documents that have been considered for the contents of this report, together with keywords characterising the documents' contents. These keywords are also a way to retrieve methods for system family engineering. Click into the icon.

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