On building a consistent framework for executable systems architecture

•A framework, CSADBF, for executable systems architecture is proposed.•CSADBF helps in maintaining consistency while modeling structure and behavior of a system.•The framework synergizes three modeling techniques: OWL, UML and CPN by providing mapping among different artifacts of them.•The functional consistency is achieved by specifying operation rules in SWRL which are then mapped to CPN Guard conditions.•OWL is used as data dictionary which makes sure that the architectural description remains consistent across all diagrams.

The paper presents a framework for executable systems architecture. Termed as Consistent Systems Architecture Description and Behavior Framework (CSADBF), the framework shows how consistency can be maintained while modeling architectural description of systems as well as their behavior. Convergence of three established modeling techniques: ontology, UML, and Colored Petri Nets (CPN), is used to develop this framework. Each tool complements others in accomplishing the goal of consistency maintenance for the executable systems architecture. The framework suggests various mapping schemes that help in establishing strong concordance among different artifacts of these modeling techniques and maintaining consistency of overall system architecture. The first scheme maps OWL ontology to UML and is responsible for maintaining consistency of the architectural description. The second scheme maps combination of OWL ontology and UML to CPN and is responsible for maintaining consistency between static and dynamic views. The third scheme ensures the behavioral consistency of the architecture by providing mapping between Semantic Web Rule Language (SWRL) and CPN Guard conditions. Thus, the framework allows architects to model the systems architecture requirements in OWL ontology and UML and to analyze the behavior and performance of systems architecture in CPN. The paper demonstrates the framework with the help of a case study and also compares it with the existing frameworks.