Research activities in the framework of the ProSA-RAES project funded by FAPESP (n. 2011/23316-8): elaborating a new paradigm for establishing the architecture of systems-of-systems in networked embedded systems

Abstract

Software architecture has emerged as an important research domain in the last two decades and will play a key role for enabling the next generation of software-intensive systems, the so-called 'systems-of-systems', especially in the case of critical applications, where a failure could lead to high economic loss, physical damage, or even threats to life. Indeed, a key aspect of the design of any software-intensive system is its architecture, i.e., the fundamental organization of a system embodied in its components, their relationships to each other and to the environment, and the principles guiding its design and evolution. Thereby, the software architecture forms the backbone for taming the complexity of critical systems-of-systems, where architecture descriptions provide the conceptual framework for designing, constructing, and adapting systems, in particular when these systems operate in unpredictable environments. In this scenario, this visit for 3 months at ICMC/USP will provide the support to address key issues raised in the ProSA-RAES Project funded by FAPESP (N. 2011/23316-8) and coordinated by Prof. Dr. Elisa Yumi Nakagawa, with the objective of elaborating a new paradigm for establishing architectures of systems-of-systems in networked embedded systems. In particular: (i) to carry out a joint research with Prof. Dr. Elisa Yumi Nakagawa and Prof. Dr. José Carlos Maldonado for addressing the challenging issue of formulation and formalization of systems-of-systems architectures, including reference architectures for critical systems-of-systems; and (ii) to leverage this joint research in a long-term academic cooperation to be supported by joint PhD supervision (in particular based on Doctoral cotutelle agreements) as well as joint research proposals in international programs, notably the European Commission's R&D Framework Program. These objectives built upon our cooperation in the area of software architecture and outcomes of the 3-month visit supported by the Program of French Chairs in the State of São Paulo funded by USP, UNICAMP, UNESP and the French Embassy in 2012. Three coauthored publications resulted from this joint work:* Nakagawa E. Y., Oquendo F., Becker M.: RAModel: A Reference Model for Reference Architectures. IEEE/IFIP WICSA/ECSA 2012, Helsinki, Finland, 2012.* Guessi M., Nakagawa E. Y., Maldonado J. C., Oquendo F.: Architectural Description of Embedded Systems: a Systematic Review. ACM ISARCS 2012, Bertinoro, Italy, 2012. * Guessi M., Nakagawa E. Y., Maldonado J. C., Oquendo F.: An Investigation into the Representation of Software Architectures and Reference Architectures of Embedded Systems. In INCT-SEC Workshop, São Paulo, Brazil, 2011.Other five publications are under preparation:* Oquendo, F.; Nakagawa, E. Y.; Maldonado, J. C.; Software Architectures of Systems of Systems: State of the Art and Future Perspectives.* Gonçalves, M.B.; Oquendo, F.; Maldonado, J.C.; Nakagawa, E.Y.; Software Architecture of Systems-of-Systems: A Systematic Mapping.* Oliveira, L.B.R.; Oquendo, F.; Osório, F.; Nakagawa, E.Y.; Towards a Taxonomy of Services for Developing Service-Oriented Robotic Systems.* Nakagawa, E. Y.; Oquendo, F.; Becker, M.; Maldonado, J. C.; Reference Model of Reference Architectures.* Guessi, M.; Oquendo, F.; Maldonado, J.C.; Nakagawa, E.Y.; Formal Methods to Represent Reference Architectures and Software Architectures of Embedded Systems. This stay at USP/São Carlos in 2013 will also enable the setup of new joint PhD supervisions, preparing the USP's PhD candidates for integrating the PhD program in France under Doctoral cotutelle agreements. Three candidates from USP/São Carlos have been identified for starting PhD cotutelles, of which 2 in 2013 (Lucas Bueno Ruas de Oliveira and Marcelo Benites Gonçalves) and 1 in 2014 (Milena Guessi). All of them are involved in the ProSA-RAES Project. (AU)