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ARCH.151 Refine system interface to subsystem interface to actor

RCAMT-517 - Populate Confluence page for activity definition: ARCH.151 Refine system interface to subsystem interface to actor Finished

GoalRefine a system interface to a subsystem interface to an actor.
Requirements met by this process stepNone defined
Inputs

AMOD-093 Subsystems definition

AMOD-085 Subsystems involved in single realised capability

AMOD-100 Interface layer definition

Outputs

AMOD-111 Subsystem interface definition to external system / actor

Methodology

First step: analyse the subsystem interface to an external system / actor

Analyse a pair of a subsystem and external system / actor provided by AMOD-085 and AMOD-093. A candidate for a subsystem interface to an external system / actor is indicated from the situation that are existing logical exchanges between logical components deployed to the subsystem and the external system / actor crossing those boundary of those systems. This process step covers the refinement of system interfaces defined in the previous process area (i.e. ARCH.920 Define the logical architecture).

Decide then which kind of interface is intended and needed. This shall take into account design decisions made in ARCH.934 for the physical architecture as well as the existing content provided by AMOD-085 and AMOD-093 which can constrain the possibilities.

possible categories of subsystem interfaces
  • network communication interface
    • e.g. protocol stacks
  • human-machine interface
    • e.g. user interfaces
  • hardware interface
    • e.g. 4-wire point machine interface
    • e.g. power supply interface
  • software interface
    • e.g. application programming interface

Note: Where it is not possible or practical to model the interface with the aforementioned categories, another one shall be identified and selected.

Second step: define the subsystem interface

This process step as well as the corresponding process steps ARCH.114 Define single interface layer in parallel. This is required to define the subsystem interface in the whole showing the interconnections of all interface layers as well as to focus on details of each interface layer itself.

process stepactions
this

create AMOD-111 Subsystem interface definition to external system / actor for the subsystem interface as a whole

actions for the considered subsystem and external system / actor (each inside):

  • define real "vertical" component exchanges between the adjacent interface layer components of different interface layers
  • define internal logical component exchanges between the interface layer components and the existing logical components

actions between the subsystem and external system / actor:

  • define the inter-subsystem interface by creating the physical interface (e.g. physical link) between the considered subsystem and the external system / actor and allocate then all symbolic "horizontal" component exchanges to that link
ARCH.114 Define single interface layer

create AMOD-100 Interface layer definition for each interface layer

  • define interface layer components of the interface layer

Guidance

The subsystem interfaces to an external system / actor are the actual interfaces for these situations which can be identified and exist. They include of additional elements inside and between these two interfacing systems to enable technology-dependent interaction and therefore are highly influenced by the used technology.

Tools and non-human resourcesTeam for Capella
CardinalityOnce per every identified pair of a subsystem and an external system / actor.
Completion criteriaThe output views conform to their modelling rules.
Design review

ARCH.R.7 Subsystem capability review

ARCH.R.8 Subsystem review - consolidated

Step done by (Responsible)
  • subsystem architect
Provides input to/assists (Contributes)
  • subsystem architect for communication/computation
  • system architect
  • engineer
Uses outputs (Informed)

none