Distributed frames: Pattern-based characterization of functional requirements for distributed systems

Abstract

In the connected world, the complexity of software-based systems increases. Many of those systems consist of different subsystems which are connected with each other via a network. The decomposition into those subsystems requires a detailed analysis and documentation of their functional requirements. Documenting and managing such requirements in a consistent manner is a challenge for software engineers. The requirements for each subsystem cannot be considered in isolation, but it is necessary to state the relations between the functional requirements, too. In previous work, we proposed a method that allows systematically identifying and documenting functional requirements for distributed systems. The method is model-based and makes use of Jackson’s problem frames approach which defines patterns for reoccurring software development problems. We now extend his approach with patterns for problems specifically for distributed systems which we call Distributed Frames. Using a pattern description template, we provide different examples of such frames. To exemplify the application of those patterns, we show how they can be embedded into our requirements elicitation method.