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Software Systems Analysis A Research Area Overview

By

Reema Al-Kamha

Supported by NSF

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Outline Introduction Data Representation Behavior Representation Prototyping Formalism Recent Work Some Future Directions

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Introduction Software System Systems Analysis Modeling

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Representation─Data Conceptual Data Modeling Knowledge Representation Ontologies

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Conceptual Data Modeling Entity Relationship Model [Che76] Object-Role Modeling [Hal01] Object-Relationship Model [EKW92] Unified Modeling Language [BRJ99]

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Entity Relationship Model [Chen76]

www.cs.yale.edu/homes/avi/db-book/db4/slide-dir/ch1.ppt

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Knowledge Representation Semantic Networks [GRI82] Frames [Min75, FK85]

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Semantic Networks [GRI82]

users.aber.ac.uk/smg/Modules/COM6010-April-2004/ 03-03-semanticNetsAndFrames.ppt

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Frames [Min75]

users.aber.ac.uk/smg/Modules/COM6010-April-2004/ 03-03-semanticNetsAndFrames.ppt

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Ontologies Philosophy [Bun77] Analysis and design information systems

[WW90], based on Bunge’s ontology [Bun77, Bun79]

Ontology is an explicit specification of a shared conceptualization [Guber93]

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Ontologies Advantages

Facilitate the process of identifying system requirements

Improve the reliability of software systems Facilitate the design of reusable systems

Knowledge representation Ontolingua [Gru93] CYC [LG90, LG95] OWL [SWM04]

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Representation─Behavior Petri Nets [Pet62, Pet77] Finite State Machines [Cho78] Statecharts [Har87] State Nets [EKW92]

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Petri Nets [Pet62, Pet77]

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Petri Nets [Pet62, Pet77]

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Prototyping Constructing a partial implementation of system Two approaches:

Throwaway approach [DAV82, GOM83] Evolutionary approach [MAS83]

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Formalism Mathematical based techniques for describing

system properties Formalism produces models that are:

Consistent Complete Unambiguous

Variety of formal specification languages such as CSP [Hoa85], VDM [JON91], and Z [Spi89]

Description Logics

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Recent Work Form-Oriented Analysis [DW04] Using Fisheye Views to Support Systems

Analysis [TSSO04] Extreme Programming (XP) [Bec00]

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Page diagram of the online seminar

registration system

Form-Oriented Analysis [DW04]

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Form-Oriented Analysis [DW04]

Form chart of the seminar registration system

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Form-Oriented Analysis [DW04]

Data model and data dictionary

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Using Fisheye Views [TSSO04]

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Extreme Programming (XP) [Bec00]

Stories(re)describe

Customer

interact

Source Code

define

defineTest

code errors

create, refine

interpret

Developers

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Some Future Directions Extreme Non-Programming (XNP) [Tony

Morgan ISTA 2004] Challenge to the Conceptual Models [Michael

Carey ER2003]

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Extreme Non-Programming (XNP)

review

(re)describe

Analyst

Customer

translate

Model Human readable viewsgenerate

Software generateMachine readable views

generate

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Mike Carey’s ER2003 Challenge to theConceptual Modeling CommunityProduce a simple conceptual model that:

Works well with XML and XML Schema Abstracts well for conceptual entities and

relationships Scales to handle both large data sets and complex

object interrelationships Allows for queries and defined views via XQuery Accommodates heterogeneity

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Summary Overview of Systems Analysis Data & Behavior Representation Prototyping Formalism Recent Work & Some Future Directions