All Deliverables

A list of all deliverables in alphabetic order.

CD JRA 1.1.5 Analysis on how to exploit codified HCI and codified context knowledge for SBA engineering — by Osama Sammodi — last modified May 17, 2010 16:00

Deliverable CD-JRA-1.1.5 is a paper-based deliverable comprised of seven research papers. All papers deal with the exploitation of codified context knowledge. It can clearly be seen that on the one hand the different research communities interpret “context” differently ranging from HCI aspects to engineering aspects relevant for SBAs. On the other hand our analysis of the relation of the approaches to the life cycle model shows that the approaches try to integrate different phases of the life-cycle and, thus, S-Cube is now focussing more on integrated research, which covers more than one phase of the life-cycle of SBAs.

CD-IA-1.1.1 Comprehensive Overview of the State of the Art on Service-based Systems — by Andreas Gehlert — last modified May 19, 2009 10:14

This deliverable describes the state-of-the-art in service-based systems in the form of a Knowledge Model (KM) for S-Cube, explaining its purpose and its individual components. It also identifies previous approaches from related EU projects and international activities that have resulted in the definition of a large body of concepts relating to software services research. These approaches are scrutinized, adapted and reused to the extend possible as part of the S-Cube KM. In addition, it summarizes and cross-correlates the major research findings of the state-of-the-art deliverables in S-Cube, and shows how they contribute towards building an initial version of the KM. Finally, it describes the connection of the S-Cube KM to a number of knowledge sources and knowledge-intensive activities within S-Cube and its usage by both internal and external users.

CD-IA-1.1.2 Separate Knowledge Models for Functional Layers — by Benedikt Liegener — last modified May 19, 2009 10:14

This deliverable presents S-Cube’s vision for its Knowledge Model (KM) and reports on the developments to the KM content and structure since its previous version (September 2008). The major work achieved during this period was to develop a new version of the KM which builds on the previous content.

CD-IA-1.1.3 Integrated Knowledge Model — by Osama Sammodi — last modified May 17, 2010 15:53

This deliverable describes the work carried out in producing the Integrated Knowledge Model required at this stage of the S-Cube Network of Excellence. The Integrated Knowledge Model is the evolution of the KM with major gaps, overlaps and inconsistencies in knowledge identified, analyzed and landscaped. The work carried out is presented through an analysis of the revisions and changes made to the KM terms. Nine Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) together demonstrate the KM's evolution, the progress made, the results of concentrating effort on the ``specialization'' of knowledge and how the public KM has been used by researchers from all over the globe.

CD-IA-2.1.2 Identification of Scientific Subjects and Partners for Mobility — by Benedikt Liegener — last modified Jun 16, 2009 14:17

The mobility of researchers within the S-Cube network of excellence is considered a stepping-stone to achieving the sustainable integration of knowledge and to align the research of the different S-Cube network partner institutions. To facilitate this, the S-Cube mobility program encourages researchers to spend time in one of the beneficiary’s institutes to exchange research ideas and carry out joint research through the reimbursement of travel and living expenses incurred whilst at the host institution. This deliverable aims to identify research areas and beneficiaries of the mobility program by analysing overlaps in the competencies of the S-Cube partner institutes and through the pro-active identification of suitable candidates for the mobility program, thereby encouraging researcher mobility between these partners.

CD-IA-2.1.3 Initial assessment of results of a separate mobility program for researchers and students — by Osama Sammodi — last modified May 17, 2010 15:54

This deliverable provides a preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of the S-Cube mobility program. Based on the results of the mobility stays performed in the first 18 months of the project, we analyze the how the scientific subjects for mobility and the S-Cube integration framework elements have been covered. We further analyze the synergy of competencies between partners and perform a quantitative evaluation based on a set of performance indicators. For each of the analyzed aspects we identify gaps which will be addressed in future mobility exchanges

CD-IA-2.2.2 Collection of Industrial Best Practices, Scenarios and Business Cases — by Benedikt Liegener — last modified Jun 16, 2009 14:17

The current document aims at presenting the case studies that we have been collecting so far and we consider most relevant to S-Cube. In particular, we focus on five cases as they, collectively, touch all the main points of interest within S-Cube. To make all case studies comparable and easily understood, we have defined a case study description approach that leverages from the results achieved by NEXOFRA and from the Requirements Engineering literature. The usage of such approach for revising and describing all cases has been very useful to highlight some weak aspects of the original descriptions and to identify those aspects in the case studies that cover the main points of interest for S-Cube.

CD-IA-2.2.4 Report on common Pilot Cases — by Osama Sammodi — last modified May 17, 2010 15:55

The current document aims at presenting the pilot case studies that we have been collecting so far and we consider most relevant to S-Cube. In particular, in this deliverable we harmonize and document the refinements of the case studies of deliverable CD-IA-2.2.2 with the scenarios proposed for validation as a joint effort with IA3.2. The aim is to provide a definition of the pilot cases that will be used as reference by the research work-packages. For each pilot case the related abstract scenarios are reported and their relationships with the Integrated Research Framework are highlighted

CD-IA-3.1.1 Integration Framework Baseline — by Benedikt Liegener — last modified May 19, 2009 10:13

This document describes the baseline of the S-Cube Integrated Research Framework. The objective of this framework, which will be constantly and incrementally refined and extended throughout the whole life of the project, is to provide a holistic vision that integrates, aligns and coordinates the research efforts and results of the joint research activities undertaken in JRA-1 and JRA-2. The baseline for the Integrated Research Framework described in this document consists of a set of views which define different perspectives on the S-Cube research: conceptual framework, reference life-cycle, logical run-time architecture, logical design environment. In this deliverable, we provide a description of these views and a first definition of the interfaces between the elements of the framework. We map the research efforts undertaken in the different joint research activities into these views. Finally, we define responsibilities for the different research work-packages, and relationships among them, in terms of their contributions to these views.

CD-IA-3.1.3 First Version of Integration Framework — by Osama Sammodi — last modified May 17, 2010 15:56

This document describes the first version of the S-Cube Integrated Research Framework (IRF). The main goal of the IRF is to define a coherent holistic framework that integrates the principles, techniques, methods and mechanisms provided by the joint research activities JRA-1 and JRA-2, and the results of the validation and empirical evaluation obtained from WP-IA-3.2. Aim of this deliverable is twofold. On the one hand, we introduce the main elements composing the IRF: views, research challenges, research questions, and research results. These elements are classified according to the perspectives introduced in the IRF baseline (i.e., conceptual framework, reference lifecycle, logical run-time architecture, logical design environment) and the terms included in the Knowledge Model. On the other hand, in order to support the management of the IRF, in this paper we also introduce the web application developed on purpose that forms integral and substantial part of this document

CD-IA-3.2.2 Results of the First Validation — by Osama Sammodi — last modified May 17, 2010 15:58

In this deliverable we present the vision and strategy of the workpackage WP-IA-3.2. This strategy foresees a rigorous method to validate the Integrated Research Framework (IRF). This validation is split into two aspects: an internal verification and an external validation. Given the fact that this is the first validation round, this deliverable concentrates on the internal verification. Therefore, the objectives of the workpackage specified in the description of work are broken down into goals, which are operationalized as questions. Each question is further refined as metrics, which is used to query the IRF database. Based on these quantitative data, we derive a set of recommendations for future work on the IRF and in the S-Cube project.

CD-JRA-1.1.2 Separate Design Knowledge Models for Software Engineering and Service Based Computing — by Benedikt Liegener — last modified Jun 16, 2009 14:18

This deliverable presents two distinct bodies of knowledge: the first one is for service oriented computing based on a proposed life cycle that incorporates adaptation-specific phases. Each phase is discussed in depth, and methods, techniques and tools for it are presented. Furthermore, cross-phase aspects are investigated. The other body of knowledge concerns more traditional software engineering and business process methodologies, examined from the perspective of service based applications. A number of preliminary results on the synergy between the two areas are also presented as a stepping stone for the following deliverables.

CD-JRA-1.1.4 Coordinated design knowledge models for software engineering and service-based computing — by Osama Sammodi — last modified May 17, 2010 15:59

In this deliverable, we discuss the need for the S-Cube life-cycle and the development of enhancements to support its implementation. We introduce the area of Service-Oriented Systems Engineering (SOSE) and discuss on how it is different from Traditional Software Engineering (TSE), while still recognising that both of these disciplines have important inputs to make to the development of Service-Oriented Systems. We progress with further development of the S-Cube life-cycle focusing on requirements, design and adaptation. From the requirements perspective, we investigate context-aware requirements discovery and specification, exploring whether existing models can be applied to improve requirements specification. From the design perspective, we suggest design principles and guidelines that are suitable to enable adaptation. From the adaptation perspective, we investigate SOSE and TSE to present practices for adaptation. Finally, we propose a unified formal model for dealing with the effects of iterative and localized changes between any two interacting service consumers and providers

CD-JRA-1.2.2 Taxonomy of Adaptation Principles and Mechanisms — by Benedikt Liegener — last modified Jun 16, 2009 14:19

The deliverable presents the vision on the adaptation and monitoring research highlighting the research challenges, objectives, and an integrated adaptation and monitoring framework adopted within this workpackage. Starting from this framework, the refined conceptual models and taxonomies of SBA monitoring and adaptation are provided. The deliverable also demonstrates how the presented taxonomies are instantiated across functional SBA layers and involved research disciplines.

CD-JRA-1.2.4 Integrated adaptation and monitoring principles, techniques and methodologies across functional SBA layers — by Osama Sammodi — last modified May 17, 2010 16:04

This deliverable aims to present the research progress of the project partners since the establishment of the baseline cross-layer adaptation and monitoring techniques and methodologies in deliverable PO-JRA-1.2.3. This progress was focusing on the integration of the different monitoring and adaptation approaches applied by the different layers of the service-based applications. The first integration results cover several aspects of the SBA life-cycle. These research results are presented through the summaries of joint papers of the project partners

CD-JRA-1.3.2 Quality Reference Model for SBA — by Benedikt Liegener — last modified May 19, 2009 10:10

The aim of this deliverable is two-fold. Firstly, it depicts the research vision of the workpackage, including the research challenges that will be addressed by the S-Cube consortium. Secondly, the deliverable aims at defining the S-Cube quality reference model. This reference model is intended to provide the S-Cube consortium with a unified terminology for describing different quality attributes of service-based applications. To this end, important quality models from service-oriented computing, business process management, grid computing and software engineering are analyzed. The quality attributes which are defined in these models and which are relevant for S-Cube are extracted and synthesized into the S-Cube quality reference model.

CD-JRA-1.3.3 Initial Concepts for Specifying End-to-End Quality Characteristics and Negotiating SLAs — by Osama Sammodi — last modified May 17, 2010 16:05

The aim of this deliverable is two-fold. Firstly, it aims at defining the initial concepts for specifying and negotiating end-to-end quality, i.e., a service quality meta-model suitable for the definition and negotiation of service quality specifications and SLAs. The research method for creating this quality meta-model follows a design approach. Initially, requirements are collected dictating the information, structure, and constraints that this meta-model should capture. Then, based on these requirements, the meta-model is designed and finally created. Secondly, this deliverable aims at proposing a methodology for decomposing end-to-end quality into quality specifications for individual SLAs. The research method for achieving this goal follows a hybrid approach: a proof-of-concept and a paper-based approach. In particular, the meta-model’s effectiveness and sufficiency is highlighted by modeling a composite service negotiation scenario and its result, which is a decomposition of end-to-end quality into quality specifications of individual SLAs. Then, initial attempts (materialized in papers of WP members) are provided that address (composite) service negotiation.

CD-JRA-1.3.4 Initial Set of Principles, Techniques and Methodologies for Assuring End-toend Quality and Monitoring of SLAs — by Osama Sammodi — last modified May 17, 2010 16:06

The aim of this deliverable is twofold: (1) It provides an updated overview of the research challenges of WP-JRA-1.3 (“End-to-End Quality Provision & SLA Conformance”). (2) It reports on an initial set of principles and techniques for assuring the end-to-end quality and of monitoring SLAs. Work related to these principles and techniques, carried out by S-Cube NoE participants and published in books, journals and conference proceedings, is summarized and assessed with respect to the coverage of the research challenges for this workpackage.

CD-JRA-2.1.2 Initial Models and Mechanisms for Quantitative Analysis of Correlations Between KPIs, SLAs and Underlying Business Processes — by Benedikt Liegener — last modified May 19, 2009 10:10

In this deliverable we present initial models and mechanisms for quantitative analysis of correlations between KPIs, SLAs and underlying business processes. We use service network (SN) models for quantitative analysis based on KPIs and SLAs, which enables strategic decisions for participants such as determination of optimal product prices or outsourcing decisions. In order to perform the analysis on the SN abstraction level and implement its results in operational business processes, SNs have to be connected to the BPM stack. We therefore introduce the SN4BPM architecture describing an enhanced BPM layering and lifecycle where SNs constitute a separate layer on top of the established BPM stack. In that context, we describe in particular a model-driven approach to generating abstract business process models from Service Network Models and vice versa. Finally, we deal with monitoring in the cross-organizational setting of service networks.

CD-JRA-2.1.3 Business Transaction Language — by Osama Sammodi — last modified May 17, 2010 16:07

Application integration remains one of the core drivers of innovation in service engineering. Application integration serves as a means of developing service-enabled applications based on strategic technology capable of creating and successfully executing end-to-end business processes. The trend will be to move from relatively stable, organization-specific applications to integrated, dynamic, high-value ones where process interactions and trends are examined closely to understand more accurately application needs and dynamics. Such collaborative, complex end-to-end process interactions give rise to the concept of Service Networks (SNs) (see PO-JRA-2.1.1 & PO-JRA-2.1.2). This deliverable targets the concept of a business transaction and explores how transactional processes and process fragments fit in the context of a running scenario which deals with end-to-end processes in a service network that possess transaction properties. Conventional (ACID) and unconventional (application-based) types of atomicity are introduced, including contract, payment and delivery atomicity, in the frame of a business transaction model. The transaction model provides a comprehensive set of concepts and several standard primitives and conventions that can be utilized to develop complex Service-Based Applications (SBAs) involving transactional process fragments