A knowledge-based approach for generating target system specifications from a domain model

The quest for reuse in software engineering is still being pursued and researchers are actively investigating the domain modeling approach to software construction. At the Center for Software Systems Engineering in George Mason University, Gomaa et al. have developed a reuse-oriented software life cycle model called the Evolutionary Domain Life Cycle (EDLC) Model. The EDLC paradigm supports two major activities, namely, domain modeling, and target system generation.;Most of the domain modeling projects reported in the literature use application domain specific methods for generating target systems from the domain model. Consequently, these methods fail when applied to different application domains. This research focuses on developing a target system specification generation method that is independent of the application domain.;A knowledge-based method for generating consistent target system specifications from a domain model created using the EDLC method, has been developed. Target system specifications are generated by tailoring the domain model according to the requirements specified for the target system. A method for deriving new target system specifications from existing target systems has also been developed.;An architecture for the knowledge-based environment that supports the target system specification generation process has been developed. This architecture separates the application domain knowledge from the control knowledge required to generate target system specifications. Hence, the target system specification generation method and the environment can be applied to any application domain.;A proof-of-concept prototype called "Knowledge-Based Requirements Elicitation Tool" (KBRET) has been implemented in C Language Integrated Production System (CLIPS)--an expert system shell developed at NASA/Johnson Space Center. To show that KBRET is application domain independent, it has been applied to the Payload Operations Control Center (POCC), and the Transportable Payload Operations Control Center (TPOCC) application domains.