Context Modeling for Software Design

Abstract

In this paper we illustrate the usage of a new formal model for describing systems and present a software design example. The presented approach is characterized by the possibility of describing a system's functionality very coarsely grained but formalized, allowing it to be used during early design phases while still being able to draw conclusions and provide support. The emphasis is on assisting developers, who utilize one or more methods from the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in complex systems. The synergetic effects and possible spin-offs can be quite numerous, and our proposed approach attempts to hide the complexity from the developer wherever useful, leading to a smoother and more efficient integration of multiple AI methods in a software systems. © Springer-Verlag 2004.