3.4.2 Improving Systems Integrity by Using Thread Analysis for Design Validation
Rob Collins, Peter Pearson, Peter Chattaway · INCOSE International Symposium · 2000
Abstract The techniques described in this paper have been developed and applied on a series of major systems engineering projects, most recently including the BOWMAN programme. BOWMAN will encompass the design, development, manufacture, conversion (rollout) and support of the new communications systems for the British Army. The BOWMAN contract will be valued in excess of £1.5 Billion and be delivered and installed over a period of 6 years. Thread Analysis is a technique that enables systems design to be systematically inspected with respect to a number of desirable properties. Threads analysis finds application in domains including safety critical systems; security critical systems; concurrent, real‐time systems and systems with complex and diverse behaviour. Thread Analysis is concerned with ‘unravelling’ and documenting sequences of dependent events within complex systems. The consideration of the way in which one event leads to one or more other events in the system and the consequent changes in that systems state can provide deep insight into its functioning and integrity. This paper shows how the essentially simple technique of inspecting dependent sequences of system events can be applied in a surprising variety of ways to yield useful and powerful results.