Christian Hein

Model-based Toolchain for the Efficient Development of Safety-Relevant Automotive Embedded Systems

Advanced functionalities unthinkable a few decades ago are now being introduced into automotive vehicles through embedded systems for reasons like emission control, vehicle connectivity, safety and ...

Generation of Formal Model Metrics for MOF based Domain Specific Languages

The assessment of quality in a software development process is vital for the quality of the final system. A number of approaches exist, which can be used to determine such quality properties. In a model-driven development process models are the primary artifacts. Novel technologies are needed in order to assess the quality of those artifacts. Often, the Object Constraint Language is used to formulate model metrics and to compute them automatically afterwards. This paper describes an approach for the generation of model metrics expressed as OCL statements based on a set of generic rules. These rules can be applied on any domain specific modeling languages for creating a basic set of metrics which can be tailored for the specific needs of a development process. The paper also briefly describes a prototype of a tool for the generation, computation, and management of these model metrics by using the Software Metrics Meta-model - SMM.

Model-based testing in legacy software modernization: an experience report

With the advent of cloud computing more and more vendors strive to modernize legacy applications and deploy them into the cloud. In particular when the legacy system is still applied in the field, the vendor must ensure a seamless change to the modernized system to not lose any economical assets and to keep the business running. As with normal development processes, testing is also inevitable for a modernization process to gain confidence that the modernized system behaves correctly. This paper describes an experience report from the FP 7 research project REMICS that deals with model-driven modernization of legacy systems to the cloud. We employed a model-based testing process for safeguarding the correct migration of the modernized system’s functionality. As test modeling language, the UML Testing Profile was applied. The modernized system, called DOME, was one of the case studies contributed by one of the business partners of the project.

VARIES framework to support tool integration in product line engineering

Even though product line technologies and methods are well established in todays development environments, various challenges still remain. Different ways of handling variability in system development tools have arisen posing an integration challenge to todays tool chains. This issue is further amplified by the variety of integration approaches. The VARIES framework addresses these challenges through technology adaptation, i.e. the utilization of model transformations and traceability support.

Rotary Dial Model — A model-driven methodology for autonomic network design

Designing and developing complex multi-domain systems such as autonomic systems and networks is not only a creative but also a systems engineering challenge. Current systems engineering methodologies are unsuitable, as autonomics is a multi-domain field that requires the knowledge of several domains, such as control-theory, computer networks, software-engineering, etc., and comes with its own set of requirements and challenges. We showcase why and how current systems engineering approaches fail, and advocate for an avant-garde systems engineering approach to designing safety-critical and multidomain systems, such as autonomic entities. In this paper, we introduce a new model-driven systems engineering methodology, called the Rotary Dial Model (RDM), whose functioning is inspired by the standard telephone rotary dial. We describe in detail the working of the RDM model, and showcase its robustness and flexibility for the system design process.

Mapping visual notations to MOF compliant models with QVT relations

Model-centric methodologies rely on the definition of domain-specific modeling languages for being able to create domain-specific models. With MOF the OMG adopted a standard which provides the essential constructs for the definition of semantic language constructs (abstract syntax). However, there are no specifications on how to define the notations (concrete syntax) for abstract syntax elements. Usually, the concrete syntax of MOF compliant languages is described informally. We propose to define MOF-based metamodels for abstract syntax and concrete syntax and to connect them by model transformations specified with QVT Relations in a flexible, declarative way. Using a QVT based transformation engine one can easily implement a Model View Controller architecture by integrating modeling tools and metadata repositories

Implementation of the RTP

As a basic principle the CESAR RTP is a generic integration platform which focuses on a model driven development process for safety-critical embedded systems. The process of realizing and implementing a specific tool chain (RTP Instance) is defined as RTP Tailoring.