Interfaces between Systems — An Important Step in System Design

Abstract

A clear concept for the word system is necessary before the question of interfacing is discussed. A system is defined by international and national standards organizations as follows [1]:

• “In data processing, a collection of men, machines, and methods organized to accomplish a set of specific functions” (ISO),

• “In terms of this standard, a system is a limited arrangement of objects influencing each other. Such objects could be things as well as methods and their results (i.e. organizational forms, mathematical methods, programming languages). The arrangement is delimited from its environment by a covering surface which may be virtual. Through purposeful joining and splitting such systems may result in bigger or smaller systems” (translated from DIN 66201 part 1 May 1981).