Improved reverse integration of SFMEA and SFTA

Abstract

This paper aims at presenting a method to assist reverse integration of Software Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (SFMEA) and Software Fault Tree Analysis (SFTA). Reverse integration of SFMEA and SFTA is an integrated approach to analyzing reliability and safety of software, which can make up the defects of SFMEA and SFTA when they are used alone. However the approach also brings some problems: complex analysis process and no analysis clue. In this paper we present an improved method that uses software functional structure diagram, software control flow diagram (CFD) and software data flow diagram (DFD) to assist reverse integration of SFMEA and SFTA. These assistive methods provide analysis clues for establishing fault tree and tracing effects of failure modes in SFMEA. With these assistive methods, we can reduce the workloads and difficulties of reverse integration of SFMEA and SFTA.