Showing papers by "Jeff Kramer published in 2000"

The Koala component model for consumer electronics software

Abstract: Most consumer electronics today contain embedded software. In the early days, developing CE software presented relatively minor challenges, but in the past several years three significant problems have arisen: size and complexity of the software in individual products; the increasing diversity of products and their software; and the need for decreased development time. The question of handling diversity and complexity in embedded software at an increasing production speed becomes an urgent one. The authors present their belief that the answer lies not in hiring more software engineers. They are not readily available, and even if they were, experience shows that larger projects induce larger lead times and often result in greater complexity. Instead, they believe that the answer lies in the use and reuse of software components that work within an explicit software architecture. The Koala model, a component-oriented approach detailed in this article, is their way of handling the diversity of software in consumer electronics. Used for embedded software in TV sets, it allows late binding of reusable components with no additional overhead.

Software engineering: a roadmap

Abstract: This paper provides a roadmap for software engineering. It identifies the principal research challenges being faced by the discipline and brings together the threads derived from the key research specialisations within software engineering. The paper draws heavily on the roadmaps covering specific areas of software engineering research collected in this volume.

Graphical animation of behavior models

Abstract: Graphical animation is a way of visualizing the behavior of design models This visualization is of use in validating a design model against informally specified requirements and in interpreting the meaning and significance of analysis results in relation to the problem domain In this paper we describe how behavior models specified by Labeled Transition Systems (LTS) can drive graphical animations The semantic framework for the approach is based on Timed Automata Animations are described by an XML document that is used to generate a set of JavaBeans The elaborated JavaBeans perform the animation actions as directed by the LTS model

The impact project (panel session): determining the impact of software engineering research upon practice

Abstract: The purpose of this panel is to introduce the Impact Project to the community, and to engage the community in a broad ranging discussion of the project's goals, approaches, and methods. Some of the project's early findings and directions will be presented.

Hybrid Model Visualization in Requirements and Design: A Preliminary Investigation

Abstract: This paper reports on a preliminary investigation into applying work on graphic animation of behavioral models to an air traffic control case study-the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) Short Term Conflict Alert (STCA) system that advises controllers of potential conflicts between aircraft in controlled airspace. Graphic animation permits a model to be visualized in the context of a problem domain. The paper describes how, in order to construct a satisfactory visualization, the finite state behavioral model of the STCA system is extended with boolean functions over continuous variables to form a hybrid model. The rationale for constructing this hybrid model and its potential use in requirements and design are discussed.

Why don't we get more (self?) respect: the positive impact of software engineering research upon practice

Abstract: Software vendors rarely acknowledge their debt to research, indeed often are unaware of it, and rarely even appreciate the importance of such acknowledgement. The long lead times, and tortuous adoption paths, for software engineering research contributions also cloud perception of the actual source of popularly adopted software engineering technologies.Whatever the reasons, this panel proposes to address the problem of lack of appreciation of software engineering research by presenting evidence of the ways in which the work of the community has had tangible, and often substantial, impact. The case studies we will trace include: the growth of software design and architecture from the early work of Parnas, Jackson, et al.,. the growth of software testing and analysis technology from the early work of Howden, Miller, et. al., and the growth of software measurement from the work of Boehm and others.It is hoped that this panel will prove to be the springboard for a larger community effort to document in a scholarly and articulate way the successes and impacts of our community. It is hoped that this documentation will lead to improved self-image, greater respect from other communities, and a more favorable attitude from funding sources. Part of the panel discussion will focus on how to achieve these goals.