Peter F. Linington

Viewpoint consistency in ODP

Open Distributed Processing (ODP) is a joint ITU/ISO standardisation framework for constructing distributed systems in a multi-vendor environment. Central to the ODP approach is the use of viewpoints for specification and design. Inherent in any viewpoint approach is the need to check and manage the consistency of viewpoints. In previous work we have described techniques for consistency checking, refinement, and translation between viewpoint specifications, in particular for LOTOS and Z/Object-Z. Here we present an overview of our work, motivated by a case study combining these techniques in order to show consistency between viewpoints specified in LOTOS and Object-Z.

Policies in communities: extending the ODP enterprise viewpoint

The Reference Model of Open Distributed Processing (RM-ODP) introduces the notion of an enterprise viewpoint and provides a minimum set of concepts for structuring enterprise language specifications. This paper extends the RM-ODP enterprise concepts by exploring how policy can be modelled within and between communities. A model for enterprise behaviour based on physical and social actions is presented.

A unified behavioural model and a contract language for extended enterprise

This paper presents a coordination model for expressing behaviour in an extended enterprise. Our model is unified because it enables the same style of expressions for describing behaviour/structure in a self-contained enterprise and for describing cross-enterprise behaviour/structure. This model can support a broad range of modelling activities but the specific focus of this paper is on deriving the key elements of a domain language primarily targeted at expressing and monitoring behavioural conditions stated in business contracts. We also show how business contracts serve as a unifying mechanism for describing interactions in the extended enterprise.

RM-ODP: The Architecture

The Reference Model for Open Distributed Processing is a joint ISO/ITU Standard which provides a framework for the specification of large scale, heterogeneous distributed systems. It defines a set of five viewpoints concentrating on different parts of the distribution problem and a set of functions and transparency mechanisms which support distribution. The resulting framework is being populated by more detailed standards dealing with specific aspects of the construction and operation of distributed systems.

FDTs for ODP

Abstract This paper discusses the use and integration of formal techniques into the Open Distributed Processing (ODP) standardization initiative. The ODP reference model is a natural progression from OSI. Multiple viewpoints are used to specify complex ODP systems. Formal methods are playing an increasing role within ODP. We provide an overview of the ODP reference model, before discussing the ODP requirements on FDTs, and the role such techniques play. Finally, we discuss the use of formalisms in the central problem of maintaining cross viewpoint consistency.

On design and implementation of a contract monitoring facility

In this paper we present a solution to the problem of designing and implementing a contract monitoring facility as part of a larger cross-organisational contract management architecture. We first identify key technical requirements for such a facility and then present our contract language and architecture that address key aspects of the requirements. The language is based on a precise model for the expression of behaviour and policies in the extended enterprise and it can be used to build models for a particular enterprise contract environment. These models can be executed by a contract engine that supports the contract management life cycle at both the contract establishment and contract execution phases.

Options for expressing ODP enterprise communities and their policies by using UML

The ODP Enterprise Language allows the rules and policies that characterize an organization to be brought together and used to guide the various stages of system design, development and operation. UML is one of the leading notations for system design and is likely to be the basis for a wide range of design tools. However, UML has a comparatively weak set of facilities for supporting the combination of existing, parameterized specifications and, in particular, for defining and managing policies. This paper discusses the requirements for defining communities and expressing policies within a UML environment, compares ways in which the existing notation might be used in enterprise specification, and indicates some of the implications this would have for system development tools.

Identifying requirements for Business Contract Language: a monitoring perspective

This paper compares two separately developed systems for monitoring activities to business contracts, describes how we integrated them and exploits the lessons learned from this process to identify a core set of requirements for a Business Contract Language (BCL). Concepts in BCL needed for contract monitoring include: the expression of coordinated concurrent actions; obliged, permitted and prohibited actions; rich timeliness expressions such as sliding windows; delegations; policy violations; contract termination/renewal conditions and reference to external data/events such as change in interest rates. The aim of BCL is to provide sufficient expressive power to describe contracts, including conditions which specify real-time processing, yet be simple enough to retain a human-oriented style for expressing contracts.

Inter-Organisational Collaborations Supported by E-Contracts

This paper presents a model for describing inter-organizational collaborations for e-commerce, e-government and e-business applications. The model, referred to as a community model, takes into account internal organizational rules and business policies as typically stated in business contracts that govern cross-collaborations. The model can support the development of a new generation of contract management systems that provide true inter-organizational collaboration capabilities to all parties involved in contract management. This includes contract monitoring features and dynamic updates to the processes and policies associated with contracts. We present a blueprint architecture for inter-organizational contract management and a contract language based on the community model. This language can be used to specialize this architecture for concrete collaborative structures and business processes.

Building Enterprise Systems with ODP: An Introduction to Open Distributed Processing

The Reference Model of Open Distributed Processing (RM-ODP) is an international standard that provides a solid basis for describing and building widely distributed systems and applications in a systematic way. It stresses the need to build these systems with evolution in mind by identifying the concerns of major stakeholders and then expressing the design as a series of linked viewpoints. Although RM-ODP has been a standard for more than ten years, many practitioners are still unaware of it. Building Enterprise Systems with ODP: An Introduction to Open Distributed Processing offers a gentle pathway to the essential ideas that constitute ODP and shows how these ideas can be applied when designing and building challenging systems. It provides an accessible introduction to the design principles for software engineers and enterprise architects. The book also explains the benefits of using viewpoints to produce simpler and more flexible designs and how ODP can be applied to service engineering, open enterprise, and cloud computing. The authors include guidelines for using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) notation and for structuring and writing system specifications. They elucidate how this fits into the model-driven engineering tool chain via approaches, such as Model-Driven Architecture (MDA). They also demonstrate the power of RM-ODP for the design and organization of complex distributed IT systems in e-government, e-health, and energy and transportation industries. All concepts and ideas in the book are illustrated through a single running example that describes the IT support needed by a medium-sized company as it grows and develops. Complete UML models and more are available at http://theodpbook.lcc.uma.es/