A Systems Engineering Approach to the Development of a Domain-Specific Language for Functional Reference Architectures

Abstract

This paper introduces an approach for the development of a domain-specific language that can be used to improve consistency across different functional reference architectures within a particular domain. Currently, different models developed using the same generic modeling language (such as UML or SysML) use significantly different syntax and semantics to convey common concepts, even if the models use the same architectural framework (such as DoDAF or TOGAF), apply to the same domain, and are created by the same organization; this disparity leads to challenges in model interpretation and difficulties in comparing and analyzing models. The reverse is also true and can be even more problematic: The same terminology found in different models can refer to vastly different concepts, leading to the ambiguity and difficulty of distinguishing meaningful differences between aspects of different models. In situations where architecture consistency and interoperability are important, a domain-specific language (DSL) can provide concrete syntax, semantics, and well-formedness rules while introducing a minimal number of domain-specific concepts and remaining extensible. Applications of this can range from model-based systems engineering (MBSE) of proprietary systems within an organization to supporting open architectures across an entire industry. This paper demonstrates the development of a DSL via a systems engineering approach culminating in a custom UML profile with rules written in Object Constraint Language (OCL) to enable the creation of a conceptual avionics reference architecture, and the same approach can be applied across other domains.