The objective
of the Monday session of the RTES Forum was to explore open architecture
concepts, models, and tools in the Real-Time and Embedded Systems
environment, and to determine how we can best increase awareness of the
value and relevance of open architecture in the platform, middleware,
and real-time application space.
The
Monday session of the RTES Forum was focused on open architecture with
the theme "Dependability through
Assuredness"
featuring presentations from the Department of Defense (Canada), the
Modular
Open Systems Approach
from the US DoD, and software assurance activities supporting the US
Air Force Research
Laboratory.
After
a joint strategy meeting with some of the Architecture Forum leads and
the RTES Forum leads on Sunday evening, we looked at what might be
involved in extending TOGAF to the
hardware and software
platforms and to real-time applications.
We
also considered how these potential extensions to TOGAF would allow us
to take advantage of the open source tools being developed
to support SAE's AADL
and Automated Tools. This effort could result in a complete tool chain
–
requirements, high-level
architecture, down through the different architecture views, tie in to
AADL at the platform
(hardware and software), ability to move artifacts from one level to the
next
without translation,
traceability back to the requirements at each level, and with automated
tools
generate sufficient
evidence much like artifacts generate for safety-critical systems.
There
were some very interesting presentations from KDM Analytics and the OMG
System Assurance Task Force in the afternoon. The presentations and the
sessions were very informative and highly interactive, allowing
participants to really engage in the subject of the Argumentation
Metamodel: Systems Assurance Claims, Arguments, and Evidence. The
presentations focused on a common framework for analysis and exchange of
information related to system assurance and trustworthiness for better
Security, Safety, Software, and Information Assurance.
There
will be a joint effort between the TOGAF leads and the RTES leads to
determine the strategy and next steps for extending TOGAF to meet the
platform and real-time application needs.
There
is the start of a Pocket Guide to Open Architecture, which will be used
as an informational piece to promote open architecture for mission-critical
applications, in medium to high assurance environments. Because
the concepts of Open System and Open Architecture can mean different
things to different people, and because they can be named differently by
different communities, there is a need for a common set of principles
and attributes that describe their characteristics and purpose. By
focusing on these principles and purposes, we can reach a common
understanding of what is meant by Open Systems Architecture. This Guide is intended to bridge those gaps in understanding and
terminology.
Ed Roberts will produce a draft
strategy and plan which will outline the next steps for working with the
TOGAF leads to extend TOGAF to meet the platform and real-time
environments.
Edwin Lee and Glen Logan will
provide a first draft of the Open Systems Architecture Pocket Guide at
the next Members' Meeting for review and feedback.
