scholarly journals RE-PREF: Support for REassessment of PREFerences of Non-functional Requirements for Better Decision-Making in Self-Adaptive Systems

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis H. Garcia Paucar ◽  
Nelly Bencomo
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Self Adaptive

scholarly journals Towards a Requirements Specification Multi-View Framework for Self-Adaptive Systems

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan C. Muñoz-Fernández ◽  
Gabriel Tamura ◽  
Raúl Mazo ◽  
Camille Salinesi
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Software Tool ◽  
Software Systems ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Requirements Modeling ◽  
Sufficient Power ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Context Variables ◽  
Difficult Challenge ◽  
Self Adaptive

The analysis of self-adaptive systems (SAS) requirements involves addressing uncertainty from several sources. Despite advances in requirements for SAS, uncertainty remains an extremely difficult challenge. In this paper, we propose REFAS, a framework to model the requirements of self-adaptive software systems. Our aim with REFAS is to address and reduce uncertainty and to provide a language with sufficient power of expression to specify the different aspects of self-adaptive systems, relative to functional and non-functional requirements. The REFAS modeling language includes concepts closely related to these kind of requirements and their fulfillment, such as context variables, claims, and soft dependencies. Specifically, the paper´s contribution is twofold. First, REFAS supports different viewpoints and concerns related to requirements modeling, with key associations between them. Moreover, the modeler can define additional models and views by exploiting the REFAS meta-modeling capability, in order to capture additional aspects contributing to reduce uncertainty. Second, REFAS promotes in-depth analysis of all of the modeled concerns with aggregation and association capabilities, especially with context variables. Furthermore, we also define a process that enforces modeling requirements, considering different aspects of uncertainty. We demonstrate the applicability of REFAS by using the VariaMos software tool, which implements the REFAS meta-model, views, and process.

PERSA: A Requirements Specification Process for Self-Adaptive Systems Based on Fuzzy Logic and NFR-Framework

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (01) ◽  
pp. 145-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Dionisio Paraiba ◽  
Luiz Eduardo G. Martins
Keyword(s):  
Fuzzy Logic ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Human Intervention ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Early Assessment ◽  
Wide Variability ◽  
Theoretical Proposal ◽  
Self Adaptive

Self-Adaptive Systems are able to change their behavior at runtime according to the environment where they are. This study presents an approach to specify the requirements for self-adaptive systems based on the concepts of Fuzzy Logic, which deals with factors such as ambiguity, uncertainties and vague information on the solution of problems; and NFR-Framework, which deals with the non-functional requirements which, very often, vaguely and full of uncertainties present themselves. Adaptive systems consist of (functional and non-functional) requirements, which hold the capacity to modify themselves during the runtime with little or no human intervention at all. Requirements that carry out the feature of wide variability are called adaptive requirements. PERSA (acronym from “Processo de Especificação de Requisitos Adaptativos”, in Portuguese) is reported in this work, using the Fuzzy Logic and the NFR-Framework as a basis, since both offers resources to manage uncertainties, an inherent attribute of self-adaptive systems. This process aims the approach of specification of adaptive requirements in a systematic way providing a guide to support requirements engineers. PERSA Process is settled in three mains phases subdivided into several steps. Two case studies were developed to validate it: the first deals with an automated system to prepare steaks, which needs to adapt to its several types; the second relates to a system for automation for canine diets, which must be adapted to different breeds of dogs according to their size, weight and classification. The case studies provide a first approach of the use and benefits of PERSA Process. In these studied the theoretical proposal was evaluated and discussed in order to establish the degree of understanding, the clarity of activities and the necessary adjustments to improve the proposed achievements, thus obtaining a satisfactory though early assessment which answers the purpose of specifying the requirements for self-adaptive systems.

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