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Applications Programming, Backlog, Applications Backlog, Prototype, Methods, Information Systems, System Design, and Models

A prototyping development method is presented here which has the potential to reduce the growing application development backlog. Prior research and our findings indicate that a prototyping process can assist in the efficient development of application systems by breaking a complex problem into several comprehensive parts. A state-transition model of the IS development process is presented and discussed. A two-prototype method is explained in the context of this model. Two projects are described which are typical of development efforts made by end users in a microcomputer environment and IS specialists in a mainframe environement. (Reprinted by Permission of Publisher.)

Software, Process Control, Real-Time System, Software Engineering, Application Development Software, Programming, Prototype, Requirements Analysis, and System Development

Large-scale software requires effective management for production. Such large-scale software consists of application software, a utility subsystem, and an operating system. Individual software factories require levels of abstraction in a design process which uses prototyping, reusing, and program generating systems. The first level is the requirements level which defines the external devices with which the software communicates. A capsulated form of a requirements description is shown. The data-function or design level is the transition, the definition of a user's needs and the establishment of the model. Program models are defined and implemented in the program level. Prototyping is done throughout the entire process for the first operational versions of software interfaces. Productivity and reliability are the most crucial factors in management of a software factory. In addition to the encapsulated format examples, numerous block diagrams illustrate software production and the rolling mill software production example.

Prototype, Specifications, Performance Specifications, Software Engineering, Program Development Techniques, and Comparative Study

There has been much discussion on the relative merits of the specification-driven approach to software development versus the prototyping approach. An experiment has been conducted to give some basis for comparison of the two approaches. Seven software teams developed the same application software product. Three used the prototyping approach, four the specifying approach. Results indicate that prototyping required less effort and less code for equivalent performance. Prototyped products were easier to learn and use but rated lower on functionality and robustness. Specified products were easier to integrate.

Software Engineering, Software Design, System Development, Requirements Analysis, Specifications, Methods, Software Maintenance, Software Metrics, and Software Quality

Software engineering seeks to devise techniques for software development. Software systems go through two principal phases: development, and operations and maintenance. The conventional design-scheme requires that a large amount of time be spent developing specifications. Alternative schemes, include rapid prototyping, the very high level language approach, and the reusability approach. The design phase includes the decomposition of the requirement specification into certain basic elements and partitioning the set of decomposed elements into modules. Current design methodologies include functional decomposition, the data-flow design, and the data-structure design. Software maintenance can be divided into three categories: perfective, adaptive, and corrective maintenance. Software quality assurance aims to optimize reliability, reusability, and efficiency. Tables, graphs, and diagrams illustrate many of the features of software engineering.

Programming, Programming Language, Software Engineering, Methods, and I/O Management

Responding to a letter from Robert Baber (Computer, June 1985, p. 112), a reader disagrees with the conclusion that I-O is a conceptual block which hampers software development and argues instead that it is the central concept of intelligible programs. Current programming languages are certainly inadequate, in that they confuse design with implementation. These separate concerns should be dealt with in separate languages, and separate prototyping notions for designer and user should be added. Thus interprocess communication is a vital concept, of which I-O is the simplest expression.

Computer aided design, interactive software, man-machine interaction, software prototyping, modeling, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

Computer aided design (CAD) systems, or more generally interactive software, are today being developed for various application areas like VLSI-design, mechanical structure design, avionics design, cartographic design, architectual design, office automation, publishing, etc. Such tools are becoming more and more important in order to be productive and to be able to design quality products. One important part of CAD-software development is the man-machine interface (MMI) design.

Programming Language, Expert Systems, Software Design, Evaluation, System Design, Application Development Software, and Small-X (Program development software)

Small-X is a programming language designed for building expert systems that is not for the computer novice. A Small-X program consists of statements called rules. The language provides two key features that distinguish it from other languages: a set of pattern-matching and evaluation functions, and the automatic handling of control flow. Small-X also has good debug features that allow users to trace rules. The manual for Small-X is complete and well-written. The language serves as a tool for learning about expert systems and for prototyping trial applications, but it is not the most trustworthy of program development systems.

Programming Language, Programming, Scientific Research, and Mathematical Programming

We describe linear future semantics, an extension of linear history semantics as introduced by Francez, Lehmann, and Pnueli, and show how it can be used to add multiprocessing to languages given by standard continuation semantics. We then demonstrate how the resulting semantics can be implemented. The implementation uses functional abstractions and non-determinacy to represent the sets of answers in the semantics. We give an example, using a semantic prototyping system based on the language Scheme. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Programming Language, PROLOG, Compiler/decompiler, and Algorithm

The use of Prolog as a language offers advantages for describing succinctly most of the algorithms needed in prototyping and implementing compilers, or producing tools that facilitate the task of compiling. One approach in implementing compilers using Prolog consists of coupling actions to recursive descent parsers to produce syntax-trees, which are utilized in guiding the generation of assembly code. Prolog is not only used in parsing and compiling, but is a labor-saving device in prototyping and implementing many non-numerical algorithms which arise in compiling. Unification and nondeterminism as means to circumvent costly unnecessary features are also discussed. Other topics include: bottom-up and top-down parsers; syntax-directed translation; grammar properties; code generation; and newly proposed features for compiler construction.

Prototype, New Technique, Application Development Software, Object-Oriented Languages, Smalltalk (Computer program language), Software Design, and Software Engineering

The Smalltalk object-oriented programming language developed at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center in the early 1970s offers a completely new environment for software development. Smalltalk is not easy to learn, even for programmers with experience in standard languages. Excellent references to Smalltalk are the Blue Book and the Orange Book: the Blue Book deals mainly with features of the language, while the Orange Book deals with the environment. Learning the language poses a short-term disadvantage, but the long-term gains in productivity may be worth the initial investment. Commercial versions of Smalltalk are available on workstations like the Tektronix 440X series, the Sun, and the IBM PC AT; implementations for the MicroVAX are under development.

System Development, Comparative Study, System Design, Design, Methods, Project Management Software, Requirements Analysis, Research and Development, and Prototype

This article presents a retrospective comparative study of the use of the system development life cycle (SDLC) and prototyping methods to help select a development approach for a given information systems (IS) project. The respondents were asked (a) to decide independently whether one of their recent IS projects was developed using either the SDLC or prototyping approach and if so, (b) to evaluate the merit of that approach in terms of ease of project management, project requirements, project characteristics, impact on decision making, and user and designer satisfaction. The results indicate: (1.) Design methods cannot be considered apart from project, environment and decision characteristics. (2.) A clear cut preference of one method over the other could not be established. Each method performed better in some areas that in others. (3.) A framework that can be used by a project director for selecting a design method to develop a system could be postulated. (Reprinted with permission of the publisher.)

Application Development Software, Prototype, and Programming

Logic programming has great potential for reducing the cost of software development. We argue that, with an appropriate programming methodology, a logic programming system provides a powerful tool for rapid software prototyping. It is sufficiently formal and high-level to allow reasoning about specifications, and it provides an immediate operational validation of the programmer's intuitions. The methodology is introduced by means of an example larger than those usually used to illustrate the advantages of logic programming. We start with an informal specification of a structure-editor, show how it is formalized into a directly executable prototype, and introduce guidelines for validating logic programming code as implemented in Prolog. The developed prototype can be used for a number of applications: syntax-directed editor, semantic network browser, etc. The editor is compact but readable, and is quite efficient. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Power Systems, Artificial Intelligence, and Energy Management

Designers of Energy Management Systems (EMS) use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to solve diagnosis and decision problems making EMS more useful. The use of AI in EMS is explained, and differences between knowledge-based expert systems and traditional numeric algorithm development are examined. The differences between expert systems and the numeric approach are illustrated with a relay fault diagnosis system, demonstrating both the traditional and rapid prototyping approaches to its development. AI implementation in EMS and potential AI applications to power system operations are explored.

Semantics, Programming Language, Graph Theory, Hardware Description Language, and Artificial Intelligence

Systems semantics is a concept which extends programming languages' denotational semantics into a semantics for describing arbitrary systems. The arbitrary systems include objects that are in no sense computations. Two classes of applications are discussed: unidirectional systems and nonunidirectional systems. A brief discussion is also included of implementation and rapid prototyping strategies in various system description environments.

Software Packages, Documentation, Text Processing Software, Technical Writing, User-Written Software, Electronic Publishing Industry, and Symbolics Inc.

Concordia is designed as a development environment for technical writers. From Symbolics, Concordia is an extension of Genera, the software development environment for Symbolics computers. Concordia has specialized support of the different phases of a document life cycle: writing, editing illustration, design, production, and maintenance. Concordia is part of the Symbolics documentation system, where the central component is the document database. It is a framework organizing the tasks and activities in the document life cycle, with three main subactivities: text editing, graphic editing, and previewing. Concordia provides a number of ways of looking at a document, including: seeing the reader's viewpoint (WYSIWYG), local hardcopy, preview, and final hardcopy. The approach has been particularly successful in the areas of fast prototyping, on-line delivery, quality enhancement, and maintenance.

Information Systems, Decision Support Software, Operations Research, Technology, New Technique, Maintenance, Support Services, Systems Analysis, and System Design

It is shown that systems maintenance activity in large information systems would benefit greatly if the process knowledge reflecting the teleology of a design could be captured. It could be used to anticipate the consequences of changing conditions or requirements. Representation and Maintenance of Process knowledge (REMAP) is a formalism that accumulates design process knowledge to manage systems evolution. REMAP acquires and maintains dependencies among the design decisions made during a prototyping process and learns general domain-specific design rules on which the dependencies are based. The knowledge is applicable to prototype refinement, systems maintenance, and the reuse of existing design or software fragments to construct similar ones with analogical reasoning techniques.

Prototype, New Technique, Utilization, Functional Capabilities, Computer-Aided Software Engineering, and Cost Benefit Analysis

Computer-aided software prototyping from specifications and reusable components is a viable strategy for improving programming productivity, and such a system is described. The system uses the powerful and easy-to-use PSDL prototype system description (specification) language and a set of software tools. PSDL provides a computational model that integrates dataflow, unified non-procedural controls, and timing. The tools include an execution support system, a rewrite system for reducing variations explicit from the specifications, a syntax-directed editor with graphics tools, a software base of reusable components, a design database, and a program design management system for organizing, retrieving, and effecting reusable components as well as controlling versions, alternates, and refinements of the software product.

ISDN, Simulation, Prototype, ISO, and Algorithm

Veda, a simulator software tool, may be used by designers for protocol modeling and verification. It can provide rapid prototypes of distributed algorithms, and describes them using Estelle, an ISO formal description technique. Uses for Veda include: ISDN specifications; radiotelephone protocols; switching designs; satellite protocols; and remote maintenance.

Software Engineering, Modeling, Methods, Real-Time System, Process Control, and Programming Language

A language model, the Abstract Interaction Tool (AIT), is introduced for the specification of the User Interface Management Systems. It offers a tree-like hierarchy of interaction objects. Each object can be considered as an abstract input device containing a syntax-like specification of the required input pattern. The hierarchy of specifications makes up a system of syntactical productions with multiple control. The interface to the physical interaction devices is represented by the terminal nodes of the AIT. Hierarchical output resource management is featured, and at the higher, more abstract level, the input-output is loosely coupled. Coupling becomes increasingly tight at the lower levels. AITs model the functions (what) required by the user at the upper levels, but at the lower levels, the way to accomplish them (how) is emphasized. Facilities exist for context-dependent and expertise levels. Links to application modes are provided in a special section in the AIT. AITs can be applied to graphics, process control, dialogue, and real-time systems. They can also define controlled production rules in knowledge-based systems and provide tools for the software engineering phases specification and prototyping.

Adaptability, Parallel Algorithms, Program Development Techniques, Concurrent Programming, and Tuning

To facilitate extensive experimentation with program prototypes, a programming system that supports rapid prototyping of parallel programs needs to provide high-level language primitives with which programs can be explicitly, statically, or dynamically tuned with respect to performance and reliability. Language primitives and an associated programming system for tuning are described and implemented. They have been tested with various parallel applications on workstations on a UNIX network.

Strategic Planning, System Development, Optimization, Tutorial, Software Engineering, Business Planning, and Software Design

Delaying commitment to a particular software design reduces several problems resulting from premature commitment including: lack of freedom for iterative design, increased maintenance costs, increased effects of bugs, and nonportability of software. Delaying commitment provides time to search for the most effective solution and increases the opportunity to recognize it. Tactics to delay commitment to a final design include: use of modular programming, choice of parameters appropriate to a problem, keeping the problem and solution as general as possible, retain options to choose a parallel program solution, do not use prototyping tools, use abstractions, and use interfaces.

Research and Development, System Design, System Development, Methods, Cost Benefit Analysis, Specifications, Modeling, Very-Large-Scale Integration, and AT&T Bell Laboratories Inc. -- Product development

AT&T Bell Laboratories has developed a flexible, easy-to-use system, Cones, for the automatic synthesis of gate-level standard cell, programmable logic array, and programmable logic device designs from behavioral designs written in C. Design goals or existing behavioral models are input to an interactive process of partitioning, simulation, and modeling to produce behavioral models with sufficient logic detail. Cones then implements general sequential logic from the models in PLA and standard cell architectures for VLSI devices or as PLDs for prototyping and low-volume production. Advantages of the strategy include: reduction in design errors, decrease in design effort and time, only limited knowledge of the implementation technology is required, design intent can be used at a higher level of abstraction, and designers can focus on device function.

Prototype, Programming Language, Language Analysis, New Technique, Scientific Research, Technology, Program Development Techniques, Language Translation, and Application Development Software

Languages are vital for computer-based problem solving for their ability to specify how to compute solutions as well as for understanding the solutions conceptually and describing them. Software technological advances center primarily on more sophisticated tools and models of computation: languages determine the computer's sophistication through such features as editors, compilers, and command interpreters. The importance of languages has motivated considerable research on language classification, characterization, and recognition. Translator construction remains a mystery of computer science, however, and the regular expressions, terminals, non-terminals, and grammars used by the translator writer to think are not represented well in the translators themselves. The uses and advantages of a language designed especially for describing and constructing translators is described.

Software Design, Prototype, New Technique, Modeling, and American Telephone and Telegraph Co. -- Product development

It has been observed that the challenge of improving software productivity and quality is not just to 'do the thing right' but to ' do the right thing right.' Doing the right thing means building products and services that meet real customer needs. Specification is the first step in deriving system design from an understanding of customer needs. Technology to support software specification can, therefore, provide productivity and quality benefits that accrue through the entire product life cycle. Prototyping is an approach to system design in which a model of the system is quickly built and iteratively refined so as to become increasingly realistic. Experience with the evolving prototype leads to an improved understanding of system functionality, dynamics, and performance so that the resulting products and services are known to match customer needs before they are built. This article describes two promising approaches -- software architecture modeling and application-oriented languages -- for improving software development productivity and quality through support for software specification and prototyping. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher)

Expert Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Simulation, Applications, and Control Equipment

A Petri net is a modelling tool used in the design and analysis of systems. The expert system language OPS5 has a similar execution strategy to a Petri net model, and hence Petri nets may be simulated using the OPS5 language. ESPNET has been designed to be used in a rapid prototyping mode to allow users to quickly develop simulation models of the work flow through manufacturing systems. The system described takes a Petri net for its input, and then generates an OPS5 simulator as output. The simulation model developed may then be used to size flexible assembly systems and flexible manufacturing systems based on the system performance and resource utilisation data generated by the model. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Fourth-Generation Language, Functional Capabilities, Forecasting, Programming, Programming Management, Performance Improvement, and Estimation

Function-point analysis was used for estimating Cocomo (Constructive Cost Model) tools for the subsequent effort and schedule of the development of an application using Microdata's Application Language Liberator (ALL) fourth-generation language (4GL). The problem was to develop an information system for a correspondence school with numerous and diverse students. A 4GL was chosen for high productivity, functional prototyping capabilities, suitability to the data's characteristics, and ease of use. ALL provided good performance, its Pick operating system handled data irregularities well, relative ease of learning and use, and functional capabilities. Function-point analysis and Cocomo tools provided reasonable guages of ALL application development. Details of the implementation and results are described.

Command-Driven User Interfaces, Interactive Systems, Operating System, Application Development Software, Prototype, Applications Programming, and Software Design

A promising approach to the design of dialog between a user and an interactive program is developed. The method provides a system, called XS-2, that integrates specification, rapid prototyping, and the actual use of application dialogs. The XS-2 command language grammar, a non-procedural description language based on regular expressions, is used to specify commands of any application program. The syntax of the command specification is made visible to the user; command names and their activation rules are displayed as a command tree. A small set of tools is thus provided for the development and automatic translation of the command specification into a prototype application module in Modula-2, and therefore no programming work is needed to design and evaluate the commands of an application. An advanced end user can develop his own prototype application without a programmer's assistance.

Automatic Programming, Program Generators, Requirements Analysis, and System Development

The expectations of and myths about automatic programming have evolved in concert with research and commercial developments in programming tools. Automatic programming uses procedural, transformational, deductive and inspection methods for converting user domain specific knowledge into implementation specific action or programs. Unfortunately there are several user myths as to the capabilities and requirements of such tools. A variety of commercially available systems with limited automatic programming functioning include: database query systems, fourth-generation languages, program generators, high-level design aids, project management tools and high-level prototyping languages. The progress in such computer-aided software engineering tools is rapid, but several programming management problems must also be addressed to support the potential of automatic programming.

Technology, Boolean Algebra, Distributed Systems, Executable Statements, Specifications, Finite State Automata, Switching, Models, and Computational Complexity

A specification model that is based on the finite state machine, but that is also distributed, is presented. The model allows the user to decompose a large system into separate views, each of which is a complete system in itself. The model further shows how the whole system would behave as viewed from a certain angle. The combined views provide a complete picture of the whole system, distributing the complexity of a large centralized system and thereby making it more manageable. A simple execution scheme is also presented for the model. A high-level state-transaction language called SXL is used so that constructs in the model are expressed as pre- and post-conditions of transactions. All views in the model are able to proceed in a parallel but harmonious fashion because of the execution scheme, thereby yielding a working prototype for the modeled system.

Real-Time System, Prototype, Software Design, Models, Troubleshooting, Dataflow Architecture, Dataflow Languages, and Control Structures

Software technology must meet the increasing demand for high-quality systems. Rapid prototyping insures that software meets user needs, increases reliability and cuts down on costly changes in requirements. In constructing prototypes developers must satisfy and relate to its requirements. The prototype must be easy to modify and have easy-to-read code for documentation and support. A prototype can be spruced up later, programmer time should be used to maximize rapid feedback. Problem decomposition is central, as is an automated support environment. Software should be created in modules to speed later updates. Improved methods of module organization and retrieval should be established and computer-aided modification of the prototype would be more effective to execute user feedback.

Resource Management and Software

This paper discusses resource utilization over the life cycle of software development and discusses the role that the current 'waterfall' model plays in the actual software life cycle. Software production in the NASA environment was analyzed to measure these differences. The data from 13 different projects were collected by the Software Engineering Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and analyzed for similarities and differences. The results indicate that the waterfall model is not very realistic in practice, and that as technology introduces further perturbations to this model with concepts like executable specifications, rapid prototyping, and wide-spectrum languages, we need to modify our model of this process. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Real-Time System, Prototype, Programming Language, ADA, Embedded Systems, Large-Scale Systems, Software Quality, Software Engineering, and Technology

Present software development methods are not sufficient to handle the fast growing demand for larger systems and higher-quality software. Rapid prototyping may be the solution for improved programming productivity and software reliability. PSDL is a system description language for describing prototypes of real-time software systems. PSDL supports rapid prototyping based on abstractions and reusable software components. It is useful for very large real-time systems and for prototyping typical Ada applications. Information is provided on control constraints, computational models, timing constraints, hierarchical constraints, requirements for the hyperthermia system, prototyping methodology and the support environment.

Software Engineering, Cost of Programming, Prototype, Models of Computation, Program Development Techniques, Technology, Comparison, and Performance/Cost Relationship

Five approaches to software engineering are presented to decrease shortfall, lateness and inappropriateness in varying degrees. Alternate models of software development are needed due to escalating software development costs and unacceptable levels of reliability, performance and functionality. Methods employed include prototyping, software synthesis and reusable software. The paradigm presented is useful to help compare and contrast alternative software development life cycle models in relation to user needs and life cycle costs.

Code Generator, Specifications, Algebraic Languages, Methods, Study, Computer Science, Syntax, Semantics, Hierarchical Organization, and Abstract Data Types

We show how the problem of code generation for a simple language can be treated fully algebraically. The algebraic approach enjoys several advantages which should be demonstrated here. First, it allows a uniform specification both of the abstract syntax and of the semantics of the source and the target language on one side and of the code generation on the other side by means of hierarchical abstract data types. Moreover, theorems about the compiler, such as the preservation of the semantics, can be proved by induction on the term structure of the abstract syntax. Furthermore, existing tools for rapid prototyping with abstract data types can be applied to validate the specification against the intention in an early stage. In addition, this paper shows how such a system can also be used for performing induction proofs of conjectures. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher)

Automatic Programming, Event-Driven Systems, Concurrent Programming, Algorithm, and Specifications

An event-based specification language (ESL) is developed for specifying and prototyping executable concurrent programs in the ECSP (extended communicating sequential processes) concurrent extension of the CSP language. ESL is particularly appropriate for describing distributed applications through the 'constructive' definition of an explicit set of allowable behaviors. Certain behavioral conditions are defined as a function of past computational history. Both processes and complex events in the concurrent program are specified by ESL. The ESL specification can be automatically translated into ECSP, and an algorithm is described that effects the process. Details of the ESL language and translation algorithm are described.

New Technique, Relational Languages, Research and Development, Methods, Application Development Software, Cost Benefit Analysis, Applications, System Design, Strategic Planning, ADA, Prototype, and Software Engineering

A relational programming methodology is developed that enables the rapid design and prototyping of complex, evolutionary software applications, even by non-professionals with minimal supervision. Only relational data structures are used for system content and interface, and programming uses relational languages with an emphasis on relational algebra. The method is successfully applied to the development of two large projects: the Ada Relational Translator experimental compiler-interpreter for Ada and the Multi-Micro Line tool set for constructing multi-microprocessor applications. Cited advantages of the relational programming methodology include: avoiding early commitment to designing data structures and algorithms, extensive facilities for extracting data views when unanticipated functions must be added, and program structuring is decoupled from programming group structure.

Prototype, Microcomputer, Software Design, Evaluation, I/O Device, Global Specialties Corp. -- Product information, and Global Specialties PB-88-4 Proto-Board (Computer peripheral)

Global Specialties $299.95 PB-88-4 Proto-Board for the IBM PC is a prototyping system that facilitates the design, construction and debugging of PC interfaces. Documentation is brief and complete, but does not contain any PC-based experiments. The connections of the power cable and 60-pin connector need work. The Proto-Board provides needed flexibility and convenience to the tasks of prototyping and experimenting with microcomputer interfaces.

Decision Support Software, Executive, Information Systems, Requirements Analysis, Strategic Planning, Implementation, Study, Egypt, and Politics

This paper provides a new approach for managing the design and delivery of information and decision support systems for strategic decision making. It draws on experiences gained from implementing systems and services for enhancing the strategic decision-making process of the the Cabinet of Egypt. The article challenges the conventional views of conceptualizing decision support systems and methods for managing them. It introduces an 'issue-based' management method for the design and delivery processes. The distinctive features of this approach include a focus on issues rather than decisions, a distinction between information support services and decision support services, prototyping the management of delivery as well as design, and dynamic tracking back-end. Finally, the article compares the conventional and issue-based DSS approaches. Such a comparison suggests that the issue-based approach can be an effective stepping stone for the design and delivery of executive information systems (EIS) in corporate contexts by providing DSS that are 'EIS-ready.' (Reprinted with permission of the publisher)

Man-machine systems, human factors, underseas systems, prototyping, system analysis, guidance systems, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

Important man-machine interface (MMI) issues concerning a submarine command and weapon control system (CWCS) such as crew organization, automation level and decision support are discussed in this paper. Generic submarine CWCS functions and operating conditions are outlined. Detailed, dynamic and real-time prototypes were used to support the MMI design. The prototypes are described and experience with detailed prototyping is discussed. Some of the main interaction principles are summarized and a restricted example of the resulting design is given. Our design experience and current work have been used to outline future perspectives of MMI design in naval CWCSs. The need for both formal and experimental approaches is emphasized.

Prototype, Cornell University, Research and Development, Models, Design, Manufacturing, Solids Modeling, Algorithm, and Cornell University -- Research

Electronic prototyping, or building a computer model of an object to verify its design, is replacing physical prototyping. Nonetheless, obstacles exist that impede the progress of electronic prototyping. One obstacle is a need for robust geometrical algorithms in computer-aided design systems. Existing algorithms can fail if their correctness depends on the logical consistency of the underlying structures. Research at Cornell University results in a paradigm expected to have wide applicability for producing provably correct programs for various engineering applications. The paradigm has been used to develop a provably correct intersection algorithm. The algorithm is several orders of magnitude more robust than existing codes. The Cornell project also dealt with electronic prototyping that permits designers to experiment with a number of configurations before committing to one design.

Software Engineering, Human Factors, Management, Program Development Techniques, Software Design, Scheduling, and Organization Structure

Software development depends greatly on proper management for its ultimate success. Software design is changed from a linear to an iterative process through use of human factors. Time must be allocated for prototyping, user tests, design reviews and design modifications. The change from linear to iterative also changes the definition of organizational roles by having different teams work on different aspects of the system simultaneously rather than in isolation. The power structure of the organization is changed as well by requiring that multidisciplinary teams share work: boundaries between departments disappear and responsibility for the product at any given stage of the design process is shared by all members of the team. Also discussed are the effects of an iterative approach on project management, communication, resources, personnel organization, and management commitment.

Prototype, Software Engineering, Methods, Integrated Approach, Software Design, Utilization, and Comparison

Computer-aided rapid software prototyping is a highly efficient method for the rapid development of low-maintenance software. The technology is based on a process model that focuses on requirements specification, design, validation, evaluation and tradeoffs between the related software and hardware systems. Rapid prototyping provides evolutionary development of software through the use of an integrated design environment. The output of the process is a working software system model that may be used as a functional or behavioral specification for the final product, a feasibility study for a more complex system or validation of the requirements of the target software system. Advantages of rapid prototyping include greater use of abstraction earlier in the software development process, lower cost of software maintenance and easier integration into the entire hardware/software system.

Prototype, Software Maintenance, Methods, Computer-Aided Software Engineering, Software Design, Object-Oriented Data Bases, Programming Language, and System Design

The process and advantages of employing rapid prototyping for software evolution are illustrated by use of the object-oriented Computer-Aided Prototyping System (CAPS) and its Prototype System Description Language (PSDL). Software is evolved to improve performance, address changing requirements and eliminate bugs. Typically, software evolution accounts for over half the costs of a software system. Rapidly constructing and analyzing prototypes of aspects of or entire software systems can reduce software evolution costs. CAPS consists of three major components: user interface, data base of reusable software components and a software execution support system. These constitute an integrated set of computer-aided software engineering tools that can be used to build and modify prototype systems, assemble code from the data base, generate production code and manage the entire process. PSDL provides a high-level language description of prototype systems, unified conceptual framework and an integrating facility for the tools. Details of the design and functioning of CAPS and PSDL are discussed.

Very-Large-Scale Integration, Computer-Aided Design, Software Engineering, Methods, Object-Oriented Data Bases, Utilization, Iteration, Requirements Analysis, Specifications, Ontologic Inc. -- Product information, and Vbase (Data base management system) -- Usage

The development of the Cbase computer-aided design (CAD) framework for very-large-scale integration (VLSI) circuit design at the University of Southern California demonstrates the value of a rapid prototyping strategy based on an object-oriented data base management system (OODBMS). A major problem in the development of large software systems is specifying and analyzing the potential users' requirements. The software engineer needs tools that enable the evolution of the system design in a manner that can accommodate incomplete initial requirements specifications as well as changing requirements. Rapid prototyping tools enable interactive development, refinement and analysis of multiple software system prototypes. An OODBMS facilitates the process by providing reusable code modules, powerful modeling capabilities and generic programming. Ontologic's commercial Vbase OODBMS package and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology X11 toolkit were employed to develop Cbase.

Software Engineering, New Technique, Case Study, Methods, Utilization, System Design, Prototype, Resource Allocation, Artificial Intelligence, State-of-the-Art, and Mitre Corp. Artificial Intelligence Technical Center -- Research

The Artificial Intelligence Center of Mitre Corp (McLean, VA) developed software storming as an experimental method for prototyping software systems more rapidly and with greater functionality than with other prototyping methods. Software storming is an intense four-week initial prototype software design and implementation effort (plus follow-on phase) that utilizes domain experts and knowledge engineers plus state-of-the-art software development tools and hardware. The four weeks consist of problem definition, action plan development, brainstorming during knowledge engineering and analysis and review. The follow-on phase consists of revision and refinement of the software system. The major differences from other prototyping methods are use of experts to work with knowledge engineers to incorporate appropriate knowledge into a software system and evaluate it and the videotaping of the storming process to improve technique. Software storming was applied to the design of a software system for optimizing placement of equipment in the US Army Mobile Subscriber Equipment System.

Software Engineering, Prototype, Performance Improvement, New Technique, Methods, GUI, Productivity, and Apple Macintosh (680X0-based system) -- Usage

The Oregon Speedcode Universe (OSU) is a programming system for more rapidly prototyping applications on the Macintosh computer through an object-oriented graphical 'showing' process and without the use of programming languages. Showing how an application can be developed and work through the manipulation and sequencing of on-screen interface objects and their interactions and the use of programming generation tools can improve programmer productivity up to ten times. The OSU process consists of developing a 'vacuous' prototype based on the standard Macintosh user interface and adding functionality to that prototype through the use of domain-dependent software development accelerators. The OSU software consists of three tools: the resource designer, graphical sequencer and program generator. Details of the design and functioning of OSU are discussed.

Prototype, Methods, Aerospace Engineering, Research and Development, Flight Control Systems, System Development, Strategic Planning, Software Engineering, United States. Dryden Research Center, Simulation, Flight Simulator, and United States. Dryden Flight Research Center -- Research

The Dryden Flight Research Facility of the NASA Ames Research Center (Edwards, CA) has developed and is enhancing a rapid prototyping facility (RPF) for developing and testing advanced avionics systems. Specifically, the system is designed to perform flight research on avionics employing conventional techniques and/or knowledge-based systems (KBSs) for control. RPF is an extension of the agency's remotely augmented vehicle (RAV) facility, which tests a variety of control algorithms on research aircraft without the need for expensive ongoing avionics modifications. RAV consists of a research aircraft, ground-based auxiliary computational facility and simulator for flight systems development and validation. The enhanced RPF will enable flight-test planning and the real-time simulation of flight performance. Details of the system are discussed.

Prototype, System Design, System Development, Methods, New Technique, Integrated Approach, and Network Diagnostic/Test Equipment

The Programmable Network Prototyping System (PNPS) was developed to provide cost-effective prototyping and behavior analysis of communication networks. PNPS consists of reusable hardware modules, host hardware for control and observation and several software tools. The hardware modules enable the simulation of a variety of network configurations through the implementation of such generic communications functions as transmission and reception, pattern matching and signal propagation. Individual hardware modules consist of a channel emulator and node emulators. Node emulators consist of a network controller and either host emulator or Integrated Services Digital Network workstation. Configuration of the components and their functions are controlled by such software tools as the CE specification language, two high-level languages, user interface, design evaluation tools and the system software language. The PNPS provides a three-phase network design and evaluation process consisting of specification, experiment and analysis.

Outlook, Software Validation, Software Quality, Software Engineering, Quality Control, Error Trapping, Research and Development, and Program Development Techniques

Better software verification and validation (V&V) tools will be needed as engineers strive to improve software productivity and quality. Changes in seven basic categories will drive the development of tomorrow's V&V technology. An aging software base will need reverse-engineering and updating to remain useful. Greater consumer awareness will cause developers to pay more attention to product-liability and consumer-protection factors. Complex applications will require the incorporation of V&V early in the product cycle. High-risk applications will require more extensive, redundant and complementary V&V activities. The reuse of documentation, designs, code, test plans and test results will reduce some V&V activities, but new techniques will be needed to ascertain the adequacy of the initial V&V effort. V&V activities will have to account for prototyping. Increased productivity among software developers will require the streamlining of V&V activities.

Evaluation, Object-Oriented Languages, C Programming Language, Application Development Software, Whitewater Group Inc. -- Product information, Digitalk Inc. -- Product information, Stepstone Inc. -- Product information, ParcPlace-Digitalk Smalltalk/V (Application development software) -- Evaluation, Actor (Application development software) -- Evaluation, and Objective-C (Compiler) -- Evaluation

Digitalk Inc's Smalltalk-V 2.0, Whitewater Group Inc's Actor 1.2 and Stepstone Inc's Objective-C are all good object-oriented programming environments. The MS-DOS version of Smalltalk-V needs at least 512Kbytes of RAM and two disk drives and costs $99.95. The Macintosh version requires 1Mbyte of RAM and a hard disk. Both the Macintosh and OS-2 versions cost $199.95. Actor 1.2 is a programming environment for the Actor language. It can run on any system that can run Microsoft Windows-286 or Windows-386, versions 2.1 or later, and it costs $495. Objective-C is a language extension to C that runs on 80286-based microcomputers and costs $495. Smalltalk-V's low price and ease of use make it an excellent prototyping system. Actor's greatest strength is its ability to rapidly build applications that run under the Microsoft Windows environment. Objective-C is a good system for those experienced with C programming language but who do not yet want the complexity of C++.

System Development, Icons, User Interface, Compiler/decompiler, Operating Environments, Research and Development, System Design, and Visualization

A visual language compiler, the SIL-ICON Compiler, is developed which enables the specification, interpretation, prototyping and generation of icon-oriented software systems. The compiler consists of: Icon System G, icon dictionary, operator dictionary, extended task action grammar, and icon interpreter. Icon System G enables the formal, syntactic specification of an icon system through a generalized language of icons. The icon interpreter is the heart of the compiler system, using the other component specifications to generate icon-oriented user interfaces. An extended example of how the icon interpreter works is described. Each of the other major SIL-ICON Compiler components are described. The compiler is written in C and runs on a Sun workstation.

Prototype, Programming Language, Software Engineering, and Expert Systems

Rapid prototyping languages are being developed to reduce the cost of software development. A software prototype is an executable initial version of a proposed system. Prototypes are built to assess the usefulness and performance of a proposed system, and as such, they must be built economically and quickly. Th goals of a rapid prototyping language are: to rapidly construct and adapt software; to enable development of more powerful systems; to validate that proposed systems are acceptable to users; to check the internal consistency of proposed designs; to ensure the correctness of transformations; and to verify that implementations fully conform to specifications. The design of a rapid prototyping language discussed, with special attention paid to issues involving expert system prototyping.

Knowledge-Based System, Software Engineering, Education, Universities and Colleges, Cooperation, and Companies

While most companies consider expert system investment a risky venture, they are anxious to exploit the technology. Universities can play an important role in the development of expert systems by participating in joint projects with industry, while simultaneously providing students with a valuable educational experience. Most universities are not equipped for large projects, but they con contribute significantly by assisting with problem analysis, system design, tool and technique demonstration and exploratory prototyping for feasibility studies during front end knowledge-engineering phases. The three-year creation of a university-based laboratory for expert systems is discussed.

Mechanical Engineering, Computer-Aided Engineering, Trends, Utilization, Impact Analysis, Outlook, Products, and Computer Software Industry

Mechanical computer-aided engineering (MCAE) has not enjoyed the same degree of success as electronic CAE systems because of a lack of commonality of needs among potential users, complexity of the systems, the need for powerful workstations for adequate performance, and the high cost of developing applications. The technology still offers the promise of improved designs and better engineering productivity, and MCAE vendors are still selling and developing their products. The major categories of MCAE products are solid modeling and prototyping systems, parametric design systems, expert systems shells, and interactive what-if design systems. Example products and companies marketing each type of MCAE system are noted. A 'killer application' may be required to develop significant interest among mechanical engineers.

Human Factors, Research and Development, Prototype, Product Development, Testing, Software Design, User Interface, Modeling, and AT&T Bell Laboratories Inc. -- Research

Human factors contributions to the design of user interfaces are likely to have the greatest impact at early design stages. Rapid prototyping therefore provides an important vehicle for incorporating quality and usability from the outset. Through realistic experience and interaction with the proposed user interface, users and user-interface designers can work together to detect and correct problems before a major development investment is made. The prototyping approach is especially powerful because it provides the opportunity for (1) early user feedback and performance data, (2) efficient, focused communication with users and developers, and (3) iterative design and test. In this paper we illustrate the prototyping and evaluating process with three examples of AT&T products and services. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Government Agency, Research and Development, Application-Specific Integrated Circuit, and Germany

Stuttgart Institute for Microelectronics (IMS, West Germany) is a highly successful non-profit foundation which assists small and medium-sized firms in the collaborative design, test, prototyping, and small-scale production of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs); supports cooperative research at regional to international levels, and furthers the education of scientific and technical personnel. IMS was founded by the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg and the Federal Republic of Germany and includes over 100 member firms in its Association of Industrial Affiliates. Example projects include a program to reduce time and cost for developing and testing ASICs and development of the CMOS GATE FOREST technology. IMS also participates in the automotive and traffic microelectronics project of the European Community's Eureka research effort.

Office Automation, DBMS, System Development, and Information Systems

The TODOS Project (Automatic Tools for Designing Office Information Systems) for designing Office Information Systems (OIS) has four phases: requirements collection and analysis, conceptual modeling, rapid prototyping and architecture selection. Each phase has a support tool in the environment. C-TODOS (Conceptual TODOS) is the tool to support the production of OIS functional specifications through conceptual modeling, the design of procedural office activities. The basic features of C-TODOS are the TODOS conceptual model, the specification database, and the modeling, query, and consistency checking modules. Office procedures and information systems (IS) have several features in common, but OIS design must also consider the roles of the office workers and communication patterns. Most OIS design combines already available software packages, rather than developing neew packages from scratch. Using C-TODOS provides the designer with tools to support conceptual modeling activities to obtain correct, consistent, and good quality office-functional specifications.

Computer-Aided Design, Manufacturing, Product Life Cycle, Very-Large-Scale Integration, Optimization, Performance Improvement, and Circuit Design

The goals of computer-aided design (CAD) for manufacturability as applied to very-large-scale integration (VLSI) circuit design are to optimize the design along with its manufacturing process in a recursive manner to maximize product yield. Manufacturability of a chip, particularly in terms of product yield, can have a large impact on manufacturing profit. The chip development cycle typically consists of four major stages: planning, design, prototyping and manufacturing. Each of these stages is discussed. Two classes of uncertainty that affect manufacturability are modeling inefficiencies and process disturbances. Specific problems include global disturbances, process design mis-centering, design over sensitivity and process-design mismatches. CAD tools to optimize IC manufacturability should provide process simulation, circuit simulation and yield and performance predictors.

Research and Development, C Programming Language, Debugging/testing software, Prototype, and American Telephone and Telegraph Co. -- Research

We have developed an interactive C programming environment (cens) with integrated facilities to create, edit, browse, execute, and debug C programs. At the heart of cens is a C source-code interpreter, cin, that implements correct and complete C semantics; enables rapid prototyping; performs extensive error checks; facilitates incremental update; manages multiple software views; and provides a programmable command language. In this article, we discuss how a medium-sized software project, the switched access remote test system (SARTS), has benefited from using cin for debugging, software manufacturing, and rapid prototyping. Using SARTS as a case study, we also describe how the interactive environment catches errors and allows corrections 'on the fly,' thereby shortening the debug cycle by a factor of 500 percent. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Vision, Object Recognition, Navigation, Prototype, and System Design

The design of a vision system for an autonomous land vehicle (ALV) is detailed, with a focus on the road-following task. The ALV vision system constructs a scene model of its environment using information obtained from cameras mounted on the ALV. The model for the road-following task contains either objects that represent the road or objects from which the road's location may be deduced.

New Product, Neural Network, Software Packages, MS-DOS, Educational Software, Neural Ware Inc. -- Product information, and NeuralWorks Explorer (Simulation software) -- Design and construction

NeuralWorks Explorer, $299 from NeuralWare, is training and development software that introduces neural computing technology and techniques. Networks can be saved and re-displayed. Online help is supplied by the software. NeuralWorks Explorer has prototyping facilities that permit users to develop small applications. Programs can be written in C to perform specialized I/O functions, graphic displays and analysis. Users can use advanced features to add or edit layers, add or delete processing elements from layers, edit processing elements, create patterns of connections, and connect layers or processing elements. The documentation, which is over 500 pages, includes an introduction to neural networks, a user's guide, tutorials, and an index. NeuralWorks Explorer requires an IBM PC XT, AT, PS-2 or compatible processor, 3 megabytes of free hard-disk space, 1 5.25-inch floppy drive, an MS-DOS 3.x PC-DOS 2.x or compatible operating system, and a 512Kbyte memory, although 640Kbytes is recommended. There is an optional math coprocessor.

Embedded Systems, Research and Development, GUI, Texas A and M University, Lockheed Corp. -- Research, and Texas A&M University -- Research

The Laboratory for Software Research at Texas A&M and the Lockheed Software Technology Center in Austin are working to develop an environment to create user interfaces for embedded systems. The system is called the Graphical Specification System (GSS). Two parts combine to make up GSS: a wide-spectrum graphical specification language and a rapid prototyping capability. A complete specification for a user interface includes graphical display, how the user and computer interact, and how the user-interface software interacts with the application software. GSS has specification forms for user-interface tools and hooks in the graphical specification to permit lower level textual specifications. GSS also has an executive component that is an endless loop that recognizes user actions and informs the appropriate object(s) of these actions, that recognizes incoming application data and sends it through the appropriate back-end dataflow path, and performs any remaining executive functions.

Prototype, Information Storage and Retrieval, Performance Measurement, and Database Design

Prototyping of an information system is valuable because it can predict problems and end-user satisfaction with a system early in the development process. Scaling up is the process of inference from prototype to full-scale information system to report information to the end user. The factors that determine whether or not reported information is useful are how much information is reported, how aesthetically appealing the reporting is, the proportion of relevant or useful data reported, and how much of the reported data is useful or relevant. There are three sources of events that produce output of information for the end user: passage of a time interval; an internal or external event occurs; the end user requests information. The three problem areas which often receive inadequate attention by the database designer are the potential for end-user information overload; the adequacy of retrieval performance; and the ability of output hardware and employees to handle retrieval record volumes.

Computer-Aided Design, Mechanical Engineering, and Manufacturing

Mechanical computer-aided engineering (MCAE) systems help companies get products to market more quickly and permit engineering to try more concepts and alternatives and debug products. MCAE usually reduces the time for the design cycle by weeks or months. MCAE helps by forging modeling and analysis, eliminating prototyping experimentation, handling engineering changes, handling increasing product sophistication, avoiding delays, leveraging engineering resources, keeping pace with electronic design, speeding communications and understanding, and making the transition to product smoother.

Software Engineering, Prototype, Large-Scale Systems, Data Structures, Graphs, and Reliability

Interest in applying prototyping to the development of large-scale, production software is increasing. This brings with it a corresponding increase in efforts to develop suitable languages and tools for prototyping. Rapid development and easy modification are the two fundamental requirements for prototyping software systems. Techniques for defining data objects can be specification described, implementation described, or value described. Three implementations of object definition techniques are IRIS, a graph-based scheme to represent the semantics of software-system descriptions; GRAPHITE, a system to generate packages to manipulate directed graphs; and PIC, a language framework and analysis technique to precisely describe and analyze module interfaces.

Evaluation, Software Packages, Object-Oriented Programming, Application Development Software, Software Productivity Solutions Inc. -- Product information, ParcPlace Systems Inc. -- Product information, Objectworks 5.2 (Program development software), and Classic-Ada (Program development software)

Objectworks from Parc Place Systems is recommended for users who are interested in object-oriented programming and who are not restricted to a conventional language. Users who must use Ada, C++, FORTRAN, etc. should consider using Objectworks for rapid prototyping. Objectworks has a number of features that simplify production of Smalltalk software, permits users to include C code in Smalltalk programs, has a rich set of classes, including the source, and is highly portable. The main disadvantage with Objectworks is its tutorial guide. Classic-Ada, a front-end processor from Software Productivity Solutions that provides object-oriented programming facilities for Ada, is worth considering for users who want to practice object-oriented programming in Ada. Some things in Classic-Ada are a little awkward because it is built on top of Ada, not part of it. The main problem with Classic-Ada is its user manual, which is one of the worst ever written.

New Technique, Formal Languages, Specifications, Software Design, Requirements Analysis, Prototype, Applications Programming, and Time-Driven Systems

A formal, executable language for specifying and rapidly prototyping software systems with time constraints, Requirements Specification Formalism (RSF), is developed. Rapid prototyping is a useful tool for analyzing the behavior of systems, particularly those with critical time constraints. RSF considers the timing and functional aspects of a software system as a whole. The formalism is built on top of a PROLOG system and produces specifications that consist of positions, timestamps, events and transition rules. Transition rules express the flow of data between positions where data can be located in the software system. Timestamps are instants of time relative to a specified time, while events are expressed as a function of positions and timestamps. Mapping of RSF rules and data into logic programming form produces an executable prototype.

Executive Information Systems, System Design, Applications, Government Agency, State Government, New York, Strategic Planning, Management of EDP, and MIS

Advances in the development of executive information systems (EIS) have predominantly occurred in the private sector, with far less progress taking place in the public sector. Surely, the need for EIS in the public sector exists. Despite problems of EIS development in the public sector, successful systems can be built. This paper explores the differences between public and private systems and describes an EIS developed for a large agency of the New York state government. The system is being used in different and creative ways, leading to a change in the organization's culture, with implicit and explicit impact on the focus of the organization and its measurement systems. A key feature of the system is its very low development cost. Sensitivity to cost and risk inhibits development in public agencies, and in the private sector as well. The approach described includes the use of standard, easily available programming and software tools for development and prototyping with live data. An iterative process was employed to develop new data where none previously existed. The experience reported here highlights how commitment from top management is a primary factor for EIS success in the public sector, even more so than in the private sector. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Proprietary Systems, Research and Development, Integrated Approach, Simulation, Computer-Aided Engineering, Computer-Aided Design, Functional Capabilities, System Design, System Development, and Lucent Technologies Inc. Bell Laboratories -- Research

The interactive ISHMAEL system-development environment provides a single, consistent graphical interface for the the specification, prototyping, system simulation, development and documentation of the software and hardware components of a complex digital system and their interactions. ISHMAEL is specifically targeted at the life-cycle support of systems wherein the software and hardware are closely coupled. Three central advantages of ISHMAEL are its ability to simultaneously evolve hardware and software, iterative simulation for evaluating design tradeoffs and alternatives and the usefulness of the graphical interface. Details of the features and functioning of ISHMAEL are discussed. The initial application of ISHMAEL was to the development of Logopolis, a prototype high-performance telecommunications and information-processing hardware/software system.

DBMS, Query Processing, Algorithm Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, Theorem Proving, Relational Database, and Functional Dependencies

The tracking behavior of the interpreter needs to be improved when a database query is expressed as a set of Horn clauses whose execution is via top-down goal resolution. Horn clause programs provide an attractive formalism for database access. One approach is to take a broadly available logic programming system such as PROLOG and using it for database access without additional modification. Using systems such as PROLOG for applications involving small databases, for prototyping of larger applications, and for certain interactive queries makes for systems that are easy to develop, maintain and port. However, PROLOG's rigid backtracking makes it inadequate even for relatively undemanding database applications. The use of programmer-provided declarative information in the form of functional dependencies to automate the insertion of cuts is proposed.

Telemetry, Microprocessor, CMOS, Integrated Circuits, Buses, Biomedicine, Research and Development, and Medical Issues

A flexible, intelligent system for implantable biotelemetry instruments that meets the research needs of a variety of biomedical applications is presented. This system is based on a modular set of CMOS chips. A specialized serial bus connects the chips. The system meets the general requirements of high reliability, low power consumption, small size, and minimum weight. Using a common peripheral chip set means the method supports the fast, inexpensive prototyping of research instruments. A custom microprocessor design is desirable and appropriate for implantable systems.

Scientific Research, Specifications, Algebraic Languages, Maps, Mathematics of Computing, Models of Computation, Computer Graphics, Boundary-Value Problems, and Mathematical Models

In a way, the ideas of Lienhardt about boundary-representation models are extended, interpreted and rewritten. He has shown that the topology of graphical objects can easily be described by mathematical concepts of map and generalized map. The map specification problems are emphasized, to take into account topology and, to some extent, geometry. Indications are also given about implementation. A technique of algebraic specification is used to define a universe of graphical objects and operations based on the maps and their extensions. First, a unifying concept of hypermap is specified, for which different levels of operations are given. In the next step, this notion is specialized to retrieve the maps and the generalized maps with their own operations. The fundamental properties of the model of boundary representation are defined, and then obtained from the formal specification. It is shown that the notion of hypermap helps to precisely define the morphology of the objects, i.e. geometrical embedding and photometry, which can be attached to elements of hypermaps. The case of surfaces is specially considered. The question of implementation is also considered. From an algebraic specification, numerous concrete representations can be developed. Two different representations are demonstrated: a rapid prototyping in OJB3 and an efficient pointer realization in C. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Data Communications Software, Protocol, Specifications, Software Design, Communications Technology, Prototype, Simulation, Formal Languages, Scientific Research, New Technique, Program Development Techniques, and Rule-Based System

The L.0 executable specification language for describing and prototyping reactive systems with many semi-autonomous subsystems is described. Examples of such reactive systems are communications protocols, servers and network models. L.0 is intended to be a synchronous, rule-based language with modularity, constraints, indirection and quantification; it was designed initially to be used by designers and engineers who are not practiced in the use of specification languages. L.0 has a common-read-common-concurrent-write memory model; it differs from its predecessor, C&E, and other state-based languages in allowing indirect references, dynamic quantification, dynamic activation of rules and recursive definition of modules. This increases its expressiveness and allows for more concise specification of the dynamism of communication systems.

Petri Nets, Algebraic Languages, Programming Language, Computer-Aided Software Engineering, Prototype, Abstract Data Types, Mathematics of Computing, Distributed Systems, Program Development Techniques, New Technique, Research and Development, and Specifications

The specification language SEGRAS is centered on Predicate-Event nets (PrE-nets), a class of Petri nets with data tokens of an abstract data type. The data flowing in these nets and the firing constraints are specified using algebraic specification. The Petri net specifies the behavioral aspects: the specification of data distribution and synchronization of function calls. PrE-nets inherit from the algebraic theory of abstract data types and from net-theory; from the former, modular composition, information hiding, reasoning about consistency of specifications and correctness of implementations, which is a weakness of standard Petri nets; from the latter they inherit a natural graphical presentation of parallel activity and foremost a rich theoretically founded set of methods for simulating and analyzing the dynamic behavior of systems and the interaction of their components. This paper gives a short formal introduction into the theory of PrE-nets, relates the algebraic semantics to the net-semantics and illustrates this relation informally by sketching the simulation methods we have developed for these nets in the ESPRIT-project GRASPIN. The paper then presents some recent theoretical results with respect to the liveness and safeness of these nets and gives examples how these can be used in a specification environment that includes net transformation and decomposition. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Prototype, Modeling, Programming, Testing, New Technique, Program Development Techniques, Productivity, and User Studies

Research on the use of data modeling while prototyping an information system indicates that this technique enables designers to quickly develop quality systems. Data modeling and prototyping are more often used independently, but the research shows that using them together increased productivity results. One problem encountered is that programmers using the technique complain about increased complexity and report lower levels of satisfaction. The technique allowed them, however, to prototype a correct system with fewer iterations. Prototyping eases the establishment of requirements specification during development, and data modeling increases the efficiency and structuring of data.

Prototype, Computer-Aided Design, Circuit Design, Application-Specific Integrated Circuit, New Technique, Custom IC, Simulation, Verifier, Quickturn Systems Inc. -- Product information, and Quickturn Systems RPM Emulation System (Circuit designer) -- Design and construction

Circuit designers need a way to verify a total system completely before committing application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and custom chips to silicon to allow software and hardware to be developed concurrently. Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) allow an implementation ideal for prototyping while not requiring the construction of silicon chips. Computer-aided prototyping (CAP) combines computer-aided engineering (CAE) translation and synthesis software with FPGA technology to produce hardware prototypes of chip designs automatically from netlists. Combining CAP with commercially available simulation tools allows systems designers to delay the decision to fabricate silicon chip prototypes until the latest possible time in the development cycle while still having a hardware prototype of the system running with software early in the cycle. Quickturn Systems' RPM Emulation System, the first commercial CAP system, is described.

Computer-Aided Design, Circuit Design, Digital Signal Processor, New Technique, Software Packages, Packaging Density, Prototype, Testing, Debugging, Technology, General Electric Co. -- Product information, and GE Diodes (CAD system) -- Design and construction

General Electric Co's Diodes hardware prototype production system supports testing and debugging of digital-signal processor (DSP) designs as well as the fast and economical production of hardware prototypes. Diodes software partitions the DSP system into predefined function blocks, assembles it using advanced packaging technology, tests it and debugs it; it can be used as a standalone system or as part of a larger electronic environment. The algorithm is coded by the user in a high-level algorithmic language; the algorithm is translated into a structural specification by the synthesis software as a multichip module suitable for high-density interconnection (HDI) fabrication. HDI fabrication allows a prototype DSP module to be ready for testing in only a few days at a moderate cost compared to the cost of custom very-large-scale-integration (VLSI) design.

Prototype, Circuit Design, Communications Circuits, Computer-Aided Design, CMOS, New Technique, Very-Large-Scale Integration, Bellcore -- Product information, and Mulga (CAD software) -- Design and construction

Circuit designers at Bell Communications Research (Bellcore) have used the Mulga symbolic design system since 1984 to design high-speed, research-prototype CMOS chips. The symbolic approach used in Mulga allows designers to create full-custom circuits offering high performance while providing the design productivity required to create research prototypes within a reasonable time. Chips designed using Mulga have reached speeds exceeding 240M-bps in a two-micron process, and test chips in a one-micron process have run at faster than 600M-bps. Mulga supports five processes and accommodates new sets of CMOS design rules easily, thus allowing designers to try various processes and compare them with little extra work as well as to evaluate cost/performance trade-offs quickly and simply. The advantages of the symbolic approach used in Mulga and use of the chip at Bellcore are discussed.

Computer-Aided Design, Circuit Design, Prototype, New Technique, Technology, Integrated Systems, Real-Time System, California, University of (Berkeley), Research and Development, and University of California, Berkeley -- Research

The University of California, Berkeley, has developed the Hyper system that provides a completely integrated synthesis environment for real-time prototyping of datapath-intensive architectures, such as those used in high-performance, real-time systems in telecommunications, speech, video and image processing. Synthesis for real-time applications is defined as the hardware implementation with the least area, given an input computational graph, a number of real-time constraints and a hardware cell library. Hyper can generate a simulation model of the flow graph at any point, allowing the correctness of the executed operations to be verified and their effects on such performance parameters as the signal-to-noise ratio to be checked. The overall synthesis procedure in Hyper is implemented as a search process; new solutions are proposed by the system by executing such basic moves as adding or removing resources, changing the time allocation for different subgraphs in the algorithm, and applying an optimizing graph transformation.

Digital Signal Processor, Prototype, Circuit Design, New Technique, Multiprocessing, System Design, Boards/Cards, Low Cost, and Connectivity

Prototyping is usually not done in the early stages of digital signal processor (DSP) design because of the time and money required to design dedicated prototyping hardware. A rapid-prototype setup is proposed with general-purpose hardware to minimize development cost and advanced programming tools to reduce programming time. The hardware includes commercial DSP processors connected to form powerful multiprocessors; the graphical programming environment allows easy programming, compiling, debugging and testing of real-time DSP algorithms on the hardware platform. The system has been used to design a prototype for a digital audio broadcasting system. Included in the system are DSP boards from Loughborough Sound Images, Philips Leuven, Motorola and Texas Instruments.

Research and Development, Artificial Intelligence, Knowledge-Based System, Flight Control Systems, Aircraft, Military, United States. Air Force, United States. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, United States. Air Force -- Research, and United States. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency -- Research

The Pilot's Associate program, a joint effort of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the US Air Force, is a set of cooperating, knowledge-based subsystems. There are two assessors subsystems, two planning subsystems, and a pilot interface. Situation Assessment, which determines the state of the outside world, and System Status, which determines the state of the aircraft systems, are the two subsystems. Tactics Planner and Mission Planner are the two planning subsystem; they respond to immediate threats and how they will affect the mission plan. The Pilot-Vehicle Interface connects the human pilot to the system. Pilot's Associate is a success made possible by the software development environment provided by symbolic processors; rapid prototyping, which developed the program's functionality; artificial intelligence researchers; and an operational task force with flight crew and engineering backgrounds. The Pilot's Associate can be used in helicopters, multicrew aircraft, submarines, and unmanned vehicles.

Research and Development, Integrated Circuits, Multiprocessing, Video Systems, MIMD, Architecture, Dataflow Architecture, and Parallel Processing

Davewave is a fine-grained MIMD (multiple-instruction, multiple-data) array processor that is designed to be used for video applications. It has a systolic array topology and dataflow control built in. The goal was to design a parallel processor that is low enough in cost to be used in consumer applications. Systems of even higher performance can be built using the Datawave processor since it uses eight interprocess links configured as one read and one write bus at each of its four sides. The pipeline to the programmer/compiler is fully exposed. It has self-time, data-driven processing, so the need for a rigid global time schedule for every program is eliminated. Optimizing and parallelizing compilers have not yet been written. Rapid prototyping is possible using Datawave.

Prototype, Automation, Computer-Aided Software Engineering, Computer-Aided Design, Future of Computing, Software Design, and Software Quality

Computer-aided software prototyping and automation may help improve software productivity and reliability. Software prototyping helps customers understand and critique proposed systems while exploring alternative computer solutions that are time- and cost efficient. Speedy, accurate and inexpensive development becomes a necessity because prototypes are simple efficient models of future systems. They can also rely on different hardware or system software than the resulting program. Automation requires simple and clear mathematical models, and a standard set of abstract data types to form a machine representation of a standard prototyping language. The future prototyping tools may require a whole separate language combining the flexibility of an interpreted language with the capacity for selectively declaring compile-time constraints as consistent refinements. By formulating standards, the computer industry will help maintain a set of development standard tools that make software more reusable.

Directories, Stereolithography, Prototype, Three-Dimensional Graphics, Computer-Aided Design, Computer-Aided Manufacturing, Light Sculpting Inc. -- Product information, Helisys Inc. -- Product information, Light Sculpting LSI-1115MA (CAD/CAM system) -- Design and construction, Helisys LOM-2030 (CAD/CAM system) -- Design and construction, Quadrax Laser Technologies Mark 1000 Laser Modeling System (CAD/CAM system) -- Design and construction, Computer-aided manufacturing, Stereolithography -- Usage, and CAD-CAM systems industry -- Product information

There are several technologies for rapid prototyping, a manufacturing technique in which the prototype of a part is created in hours rather than weeks. Rapid prototyping systems use three dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) files, slicing the image into cross sections and constructing layers of solid material, bonding each to the one before it. 3D Systems Inc $385,000 SLA 190 uses stereolithography and focuses an ultraviolet light onto a liquid polymer. It can produce a 20X20X20 inch part in 3 hours. Stratasys Inc's $178,000 3D Modeler uses fused deposition modeling to produce a 12X12X12 inch part in under five hours. Helisys' $110,000 LOM-2030 uses laminated object modeling to create a 20X30X20 inch part in 15 to 30 hours. Light Sculpting Inc offers the $129,700 LSI-1115MA which produces an 11X11X15 inch part at 40 seconds per layer. Quadrax Laser Technologies Makes the $195,000 Mark 1000 Laser Modeling System which uses laser modeling to produce a 12X12X12 inch part in six to twenty-four hours.

Process Control, Process Management, Management by Objectives, Modeling, and Computer Science

The more general the modeling problem, the easier it may be to solve. Process models of the past, evolving from the waterfall model through the evolutionary, incremental and Rapid Iterative Production Prototyping model to the spiral model, have focused on defining the activity structure. This means that their effectiveness is determined by the type of problem being solved. Infrastructure and communication structure planning are mostly omitted. While some projects have succeeded using these methods, others have failed. The chances for long-term success can be increased by giving equal emphasis to the infrastructure and communication structure. Five proposed levels of process maturity that can improve a process include initial, repeatable, defined, managed and optimizing. The Cosmos process management model is a more general and unifying model than those used in the past.

Air Traffic Control, Management of EDP, Information Services, Comparison, and Careers

The similarities between air traffic control and information services management are notable. Both professions are challenging and intense, involve daily crises, require timely management decisions with short- and long-term consequences, and involve an unpredictable blend of people and technology. The need to quickly organize and prioritize, and to standardize on as many things as possible in air traffic control is not unlike reusable procedures or modules in software development, and the art of convincing people is a requirement of both professions. However, compromise is more important in the information services industry, since users and clients have control as well as the manager. Operating procedure is a key area where the two professions are similar; like the fixed steps used to direct traffic, rapid-prototyping techniques are used to create real-time models that can be monitored and adjusted.

Prototype, Software Design, Program Development Techniques, New Technique, ADA, Abstract Data Types, Specifications, PL/1, Automatic Programming, Scientific Research, and Models of Computation

A software system prototype is an operational model that exhibits the behavioral and structural characteristics of the desired software product. We describe a prototyping system that automatically generates compilable prototypes by transforming an abstract data type specification into a program. The prototyping system consists of two versions: a compiler on MULTICS that generates PL/1 code, and a compiler on UNIX that generates ADA code. The proposed approach allows the specification developer to investigate the behavior of the specifications and define implementation models. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Automation, Trends, Factory Management, Industry Analysis, Methods, Control Systems, CAD/CAM, Software packages, Computer-Aided Manufacturing, Computer-aided manufacturing, and Software -- Design and construction

It is becoming easier to automate the production process because of enhanced computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) systems that handle process planning, shop-floor control and quality. Rapid prototyping systems and other such emerging technologies promise to cut product development time even further. NC programming is the process of writing code to drive automated machine tools; code is generated that defines the tool path to be followed and the steps required to make a part on a specific milling machine, lathe, punch or machining center. Among the new factory productivity techniques are group technology, design retrieval, cellular manufacturing, design for manufacturing/design for assembly, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing. Also described are free-form manufacturing, desktop manufacturing, photopolymerization, cell controllers, programmable controllers and coordinate measuring machines.

Computer-Aided Software Engineering, Design, Automation, Modeling of Computer Systems, Concurrent Programming, System Design, Quantitative Methods, Specifications, and Requirements Analysis

The System ARchitect's Apprentice (SARA) method, which uses a structural model and graph model of behavior to express a design, is used to state the requirements of a software design before implementation begins. The SARA method, like others, provides tools for editing, analysis, correctness verification, simulation, performance measurement, prototyping and implementation synthesis, which differentiate between the design phase and the requirement phase. A design synthesizer, called Design Assistant, works on top of the SARA environment to provide the designer with a requirement-driven design method. The Design Assistant tools create system verification diagrams and data flow diagrams in the requirements models and synthesize SARA's structural and behavioral models. This method adds to the SARA-based design approach in the two requirements methods and has application in design models other than those presented.

Computer-aided design, Prototype, Command and Control Systems, Military, Logistics, Software Design, Automation, ADA, Code Generator, and Computer-aided design -- Usage

A Computer-Aided Prototyping System (CAPS) helps to automate the early stages of software design, supports system management and aids in controlling a system's evolution. The Prototype System Description Language (PDSL) integrates the tools in CAPS so that the designer can work from a real-time schedule and generate an executable Ada model automatically. This study works with a prototype having embedded software characteristics, hard real-time constraints, multiple and predefined hardware interfaces, and complex requirements. The Ada prototype processes tactical data from multiple interfaces in real time. CAPS, used with the Transportable Applications Environment Plus windowing package, generates the Ada code, which is then run on a Sun 3. This prototype currently serves as a test model for computer-aided software design research and in the investigation of deadlock detection and prevention at the design level.

Machine Vision, Algorithm, Dynamic Control, Prototype, Parallel Algorithms, MIMD, Scientific Research, Implementation, and Machine vision -- Research

New parallel implementations of visual processing algorithms, using multiple instruction, multiple data (MIMD) architectures, are developed for dynamic control of both communication and processing complexity during the execution of high-level computer vision systems. Segmentation and model-based interpretation of visual scenes from existing sequential implementations is achieved. The merits of transforming programs into imperative execution code for final implementation and of functional prototyping are also considered. The capability for dynamic control of algorithms is examined in light of the fact that such control is essential for the intelligent exploitation of MIMD architectures for higher level vision. Parallel algorithms can be developed by direct implementation, program transformation or automated parallelism. The feature detection capability of the Hough transform (HT) is used to illustrate direct implementation of transformation from image to parameter space.

Conferences and Meetings, Research and Development, System Design, Standard, Industry Analysis, Testing, Validation, Artificial intelligence, Expert systems, Knowledge-Based System, Artificial intelligence -- Conferences, meetings and seminars, Expert systems -- Research, and Knowledge-based systems -- Testing

Most knowledge-based system developers are unsystematic in their approach to verification, validation and testing even though reliability is a crucial element of their systems. AAAI '91 featured descriptions of new methods and tools for verifying, validating and testing knowledge-based systems, as well as overviews of the state of the field in the US, Japan and Europe. A survey of developers and users of knowledge-based systems in the US found 52 percent lacked written requirements and 43 percent used prototypes for requirements. Takao Terano of the University of Tsukuba, Tokyo, described a three-year project to develop guidelines for evaluating expert systems sponsored by the Japanese Information Processing Development Center; the project surveyed large industrial expert system applications and proposes a life cycle based on rapid prototyping and phased approaches. Also discussed is the state of standards in the industry and automated tools for verification, validation and testing.

User Need, Applications Programming, Models, Software Design, User Interface, Programming Management, Software engineering, and Software engineering -- Methods

Software engineers can produce highly functional software by following the usability engineering model. This model is based on Gould and Lewis' 'golden rules,' with added extensions and modifications. Basic elements include using iterative and participatory design in prototyping and planning for modifications. Engineers should not rush a design and need to truly know the users and their individual characteristics. Usability goals include learnability, designing an efficient system, allowing system users who do not use the system frequently to return to it without a high learning curve and striving for subjective user satisfaction. Developers must also perform empirical testing with real users and complete a competitive analysis by examining current competing products. Extensive details are provided.

Software Design, Methods, Transparency, Integrated Systems, Software Validation, System Design, Research and Development, Computer-aided software engineering, Clean rooms -- Research, and Computer-aided software engineering -- Research

Integrated computer aided software engineering (CASE) is a necessary component in the idea of near-zero-defect systems engineering. The automation of process quality control and transparent integration from the tools and phases of one life-cycle phase into the next life-cycle phase is the subject of recent research. Formal development methods and object-oriented methods of system development have been formulated with varying degrees of success. Improvements in quality and productivity are reportedly possible with the Cleanroom method of system engineering, based on mathematical models of desired system behavior. The Cleanroom strategy also uses an inherent object base in development. Concepts involved in the Cleanroom method include incremental development for system prototyping, configuration management, version control, verification and testing; box-structure analysis and design for scale up analysis and design in order to accommodate any size system, correctness verification, and reliability certification.

Rapid Prototyping, Processor Architecture, Algorithm, Miniaturization, Reconfiguration, Circuit Design, Integrated circuit fabrication, Signal processing, Prototypes, Engineering -- Design and construction, Integrated circuit fabrication -- Testing, and Signal processing -- Research

Ageneralized architecture for signal processing, the wafer scale integration architecture for rapid prototyping (WARP), consists of the universal multiply-substract-add (UMSA) cell and the universal nonlinear (UNL) cell. The class of algorithms is broadened by the WARP architecture, using a single rapid-prototyping architecture. FIR filtering algorithms, FFT computation algorithms and L-U decomposition algorithms can be implemented. The high degree of regularity in signal processing algorithms makes them suitable for wafer scale integration (WSI). Mapping of the algorithm to an array of just a few types of cells on the wafer is facilitated. Careful test planning and strict adherence to design-for-test practices are important to testing WSI circuits. The UMSA and UNL cells are discussed in detail with the mapping of the FFT and L-U decomposition algorithms.

Computer-Aided Design, Rapid Prototyping, New Technique, Models, Prototypes, Engineering -- Design and construction, and Computer industry -- Product information

Companies can produce a prototype from a computer-aided design (CAD) file within one or two days by using the services of one of the approximately 40 rapid prototyping (RP) service bureaus. The CAD system must interface with the RP equipment, the file format being particularly important. An STL file interfaces with most RP systems and can be created with a good CAD system. Alternatively, many software developers now offer STL translators. STL translators can be created only for solid-model CAD systems only, rather than for models that do not close. Surface models work only if they are designed to be watertight. Additionally, supports must be created for any cantilevers or other unsupported structures to develop a CAD model and it is often appropriate to allow the RP service bureau to create the supports themselves. Future alternatives to the STL format will allow users to create smooth, precise surfaces.

Product Development, Quality Control, Iteration, Prototype, System Design, Process Control, Iterative methods (Mathematics) -- Usage, System Design -- Innovations, and Process Control -- Analysis

To promote product quality, a design process should represent the needs of all who will use, develop, or modify the product. The service creation environment (SCE) for the A-I-Net adjuncts, a family of products that allow service providers to control the definition, development, and evolution of advanced intelligent network services, was developed with a design-by-use process. This process is an iterative cycle of analysis, prototype construction, and user evaluation. It uses human factors and system prototyping techniques to involve potential users of the product early in the product definition and design stages. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Application Development Software, Computer-aided software engineering, Software packages, Product Introduction, Advanced Systems Technology Corp. -- Product introduction, Interactive Development Environments Inc. -- Product introduction, Cadre Technologies Inc. -- Product introduction, Mark V Systems Inc. -- Product introduction, Camera (CASE software) -- Product introduction, Interactive Development Environments C Development Environment (Program development software) -- Product introduction, Teamwork/OOD (CASE software) -- Product introduction, Teamwork/OOA (CASE software) -- Product introduction, ObjectMaker (CASE software) -- Product introduction, Toolbuilder (CASE software) -- Product introduction, Program development software -- Product introduction, Software -- Product introduction, and Computer software industry -- Product introduction

Six applications development software packages are discussed. Advanced Systems Technology's CAMERA computer-aided software engineering (CASE) program consists of an object-oriented repository and modeling language that enable users to model problems that can be expressed in English. Interactive Development Environments Inc's C Development Environment program development software package is a bundled configuration of integrated tools for C programming. Cadre Technologies Inc's Teamwork/OOA CASE software package consists of the standard Cadre Teamwork/SA, Teamwork/RT and Teamwork/IM applications, as well as special menus, editors, navigation facilities and design-rule checkers that are compatible with Project Technology's object-oriented analysis method. Cadre's Teamwork/OOD CASE software package consists of a graphical C++ code-frame generator and an operational interface to CenterLine Software's ObjectCenter programmer's workbench. Mark V Systems Inc's ObjectMaker CASE software package handles graphical analysis and design; the program supports over 20 methods and notations. Ipsys Software's Toolbuilder is a metaCASE architecture that enables speedy prototyping and custom CASE applications development.

Computer-aided design, Software packages, Application Development Software, GUI, TeleSoft -- Product introduction, Virtual Prototypes Inc. -- Product introduction, GUIdance Technologies Inc. -- Product introduction, TeleUse (Application development software) -- Product introduction, VAPS (CAD software) -- Product introduction, Choreographer (Program development software) -- Product introduction, Software -- Product introduction, Computer software industry -- Product introduction, Program development software -- Product introduction, and Graphical user interface

TeleSoft's TeleUse, Virtual Prototypes' VAPS and GUIdance Technologies' Choreographer graphical user interface (GUI)-building software programs are discussed. TeleUse computer-aided design (CAD) software package helps users develop GUIs on Unix workstations. The program supports C Windows Xt-intrinsics and the Athena and Motif application sets. TeleUse offers a direct-manipulation interface for constructing and placing objects such as lists and icons. VAPS is a program development software package that can be used for speedy prototyping of sophisticated GUIs. The program emulates GUI operation in real-time and produces C code to implement the simulations in target applications. Choreographer is a program development software package that consists of an integral object-oriented language; the language supports multitasking and cooperative processing. Choreographer's main features include a Source Editor, an interactive interface and a Class Browser.