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http://hdl.handle.net/1947/9865
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| Title: | Developing an Evaluation Method for Middleware-Based Software Architectures of Airborne Mission Systems. |
| Report number: | DSTO-TR-2204 |
| AR number: | AR-014-310 |
| Classification: | Unclassified |
| Report type: | Technical Report |
| Authors: | Foster, K.
Liu, J.
Iannos, A. |
| Issue Date: | 2007-07 |
| Division: | Air Operations Division |
| Abbreviation: | AOD |
| Release authority: | Chief, Air Operations Division |
| Task sponsor: | Long Range Research |
| Task number: | 07/245 |
| File number: | 2008/1041870 |
| Pages or format: | 36 |
| References: | 41 |
| DSTORL/DEFTEST terms: | Middleware
Airborne mission systems
Software architecture
Software evaluation |
| Abstract: | The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is acquiring airborne mission systems that incorporate component-based and distributed computing systems. Such systems are built on middleware technologies. As DSTO is responsible for technically evaluating ADF acquisitions, one area of research in the Air Operations Division is the evaluation of middleware-based software architectures. In order to conduct this research, DSTO and NICTA have collaborated to extend NICTA’s middleware evaluation method and apply it to the airborne mission systems domain. |
| Executive summary: | The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is acquiring airborne mission systems (AMS) that incorporate component-based and distributed computing systems in order to enhance its Network Centric Warfare (NCW) capability. These systems are built on middleware, which is a class of software infrastructure technologies that use high-level abstractions to simplify the construction of distributed systems. Middleware architectures play a crucial role in the overall quality of distributed applications. The Defence Science & Technology Organisation (DSTO) is responsible for evaluating technical proposals for aircraft systems for the ADF. It would be useful to have a method that evaluators of middleware-based systems could use to rigorously assess technologies and determine their fitness for purpose. This would benefit the ADF by uncovering potential design and implementation problems in systems and platforms that incorporate middleware. The Air Operations Division (AOD) branch of DSTO has, therefore, developed a research program to investigate the evaluation of software architectures of middleware-based systems. In order to perform evaluations as efficiently and effectively as possible, AMS needs to develop a capability in evaluating component-based and distributed software architectures. This includes codification of the evaluation process and reuse of evaluation knowledge from one project to another. Such a capability would promote organisational learning and lead to effective and efficient evaluation of projects. Researchers from NICTA’s Empirical Software Engineering program have developed a structured approach to address the evaluation of middleware architectures, called MEMS (Method for Evaluating Middleware architectureS). MEMS is a systematic and rigorous approach for evaluating the various attributes of the architecture of middleware platforms, components and the interfaces for integration with different software applications. NICTA and DSTO have collaborated to extend MEMS to support the evaluation of airborne mission systems that incorporate component-based and distributed technologies. This work was conducted under the AOD Long Range Research (LRR) Task 06/075. The MEMS extension was applied to the Hybrid Mission System Testbed (MST) at AOD by outlining an evaluation plan. The Hybrid MST provides infrastructure that enables the investigation and demonstration of distributed computing technologies and concepts in modern airborne mission systems. The Hybrid MST is not a simulation of an airborne mission system; rather it incorporates components similar to those found in such systems. Further research will involve: • the development of a detailed evaluation plan for the Hybrid MST • instrumentation and configuration of the Hybrid MST to enable the evaluation plan to be implemented • conducting experiments for each of the scenarios in the evaluation plan; and • analysing the results obtained from these experiments. The evaluation results and the patterns used in the Hybrid MST may be documented using an architecture knowledge management tool also developed by NICTA. This collaboration has resulted in an improved capability at DSTO to reliably and efficiently evaluate architecture risk during system acquisition. The project also resulted in an enhancement of NICTA’s research by providing an industrial environment for technology trial, usage and improvement. |
| Appears in Collections: | DSTO Formal Reports
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