Commercial Off-the-shelf Products Research Articles

Reliability risk analysis and control strategy of COTS devices in aviation equipment

With the rapid advancement of aviation equipment, the adoption of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices in aviation equipment has witnessed a substantial rise. As these devices are not specifically designed for aviation equipment with high safety and reliability requirements, their widespread use may give rise to numerous challenges and issues. Therefore, conducting reliability risk analysis and control of COTS devices is crucial for ensuring the performance and reliability of aviation equipment. This paper examines the fundamental conditions and current issues regarding the test and evaluation work of COTS products in U.S. military aviation equipment. Furthermore, it conducts a thorough analysis of the reliability risks associated with COTS devices in aviation equipment. Subsequently, a strategy and procedure for managing reliability risks related to COTS devices in aviation equipment is proposed. The results of the application case analysis demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in identifying and capturing the key factors associated with the reliability risk of COTS devices. This subsequently guides the assessment and control of reliability risks associated with COTS devices in aviation equipment.

Reaching self-stabilising distributed synchronisation with COTS Ethernet components: the WALDEN approach

For reaching deterministic self-stabilising distributed synchronisation with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) Ethernet, this paper explores the Wire-Adapted Linker-Decoupled EtherNet (WALDEN) architecture with the integration of several mass-produced COTS products. Upon this architecture, basic strategies of distributed synchronisation are discussed. Self-stabilising algorithms are presented and formally analysed. Besides, a prototype system is realised with COTS switches, PHY chips, and low-end ARM series under the WALDEN architecture with a minimum hardware modification. The experimental result shows that a sub-microsecond synchronisation precision can be achieved with this prototype implementation even in the presence of low-quality switch with non-queuing delay-jitters of several microseconds. Among existing solutions, this work features in considering the distributed synchronisation, backward-compatibility, and self-stabilisation problems as a whole.

Quality Assessment of Standard and Customized COTS Products

Software quality is a very important aspect in evolving strategy for IT vendors involved in commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) (also referred as packaged software) product development. Software metrics are widely accepted measures for monitoring and managing the quality in software projects. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are COTS products and attempt to integrate data and processes in organizations and often require extensive customization. Using software quality metrics already established in literature, software quality attributes defined by the quality model ISO/IEC 9126 were evaluated for a standard and a customized ERP product. This will help the ERP team to identify the specific quality attributes that were affected owing to customization. This research study infers that there exists a considerable impact of ERP system customization over the quality of ERP product. The implications of the findings for both practice and research are discussed, and possible areas of future research are identified.

Process of Measuring the Maintainability of Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Based Systems: A Complexity Approach

This paper defines a process of predictive approach to evaluate the maintainability of a Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS)-based system(CBS) by analyzing the complexity of the deployment of the system. The approach integrates architectural dependencies and the system’s concept of operations to derive a network-based representation of the software system. A greater understanding of the deployment complexity is gained by using a Design Structure Matrix (DSM) to determine the number of architectural dependencies on a COTS product, or in-degree, for each COTS product in the system. The arithmetic mean of the in-degree for all nodes in the system is then compared with the perceived effort to maintain the system. The resultant measure – the in-degree mean – is useful in evaluating the maintainability of the operational system while the system is being designed and throughout its lifetime. Architects can use the approach to assist in COTS product selection and to make product trades to optimize the maintainability of the system. Integrators can use the approach to optimize product deployment and to determine the upgrade strategy for deployment. Finally, maintenance engineers can use the approach to estimate the effort required to maintain the system and to identify areas in which extensive product expertise is required. Because the approach requires only basic information about the system, it can be applied early in the design process and used until the system is decommissioned.

Development and Flight Test of Affordable Scientific Balloon System Suitable for Sea Recovery

A reasonable solution to retrieve a payload of a scientific balloon regardless of safety issues and recoverability is the sea recovery strategy. Sea recovery strategy is a unique retrieval method being pioneered by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) for decades. This strategy has contributed to the achievement of various scientific and engineering research missions in Japan, such as in atmospheric observation and space environment simulation. However, in spite of a long history of conducting sea recovery strategy by JAXA/ISAS, to the best of the author’s knowledge, there have been few published works on designing and manufacturing balloon systems suitable for sea recovery operations due to the rarity of this recovery method. This paper presents a detailed description of a system for a small zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) platform designed for sea recovery operations. For this, a small ZPB platform using affordable commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products was developed with careful consideration of maritime telecommunication, water resistance, short-circuit prevention, and flotation. In addition to reducing the overall cost by using COTS products, it enabled miniaturization of the telemetry, tracking and command system to enhance portability. The results of the latest flight tests were also described including the sea retrieval strategy to verify the reliability of the developed balloon system.

Integrating COTS technology in defense systems

PurposeMilitaries face increasing budget pressures, high operations tempos, a blitzing pace of technology, and adversaries that often meet or beat government capabilities using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies. The integration of COTS products into defense systems has been offered to help meet these challenges, yet such integration suffers mixed results. The purpose of this paper is to offer a knowledge-based conceptual framework for understanding COTS technology integration in the defense sector.Design/methodology/approachA literature review of 62 sources was conducted with the objectives of identifying antecedents (barriers and facilitators) and consequences of COTS adoption.FindingsResearch implicates the importance of knowledge management to successful COTS integration. COTS appropriateness should be gauged, and it is impacted by 14 enabling and five deterrent factors.Research limitations/implicationsThe conceptual framework of COTS technology usage enhances understanding of COTS performance. The framework and its propositions should focus, and thus, stimulate increased future research of COTS performance. Limitations common to qualitative methods are disclosed.Practical implicationsBy identifying factors that shape COTS appropriateness, practitioners know the factors to manage to hedge toward successful COTS integration. Managers should be aware of the importance of market knowledge for defense COTS innovation, especially for commercial companies that work as system integrators. COTS integrators need to better manage the lessons learned from COTS integration programs.Originality/valueThis research is the first to develop a conceptual framework of COTS product usage and a scale to measure COTS product appropriateness.

Complexity of system maintainability analysis based on the interpretive structural modeling methodology: Transdisciplinary approach

This paper outlines a diagnostic approach to quantify the maintainability of a Commercial off-the-Shelf (COTS)-based system by analyzing the complexity of the deployment of the system components. Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) is used to demonstrate how ISM supports in identifying and understanding interdependencies among COTS components and how they affect the complexity of the maintenance of the COTS Based System (CBS). Through ISM analysis we have determined which components in the CBS contribute most significantly to the complexity of the system. With the ISM, architects, system integrators, and system maintainers can isolate the COTS products that cause the most complexity, and therefore cause the most effort to maintain, and take precautions to only change those products when necessary or during major maintenance efforts. The analysis also clearly shows the components that can be easily replaced or upgraded with very little impact on the rest of the system.

COTS products selection using fuzzy chance-constrained multiobjective programming

In this paper, we study the commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products selection problem in COTS-based modular software systems with fuzzy parameters using chance-constrained multiobjective programmi...

Multiobjective credibilistic model for COTS products selection of modular software systems under uncertainty

In this paper, we present a multiobjective credibilistic model for commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products selection in a modular software system under a fuzzy environment. To treat imprecise parameters, we use a credibility-based approach that combines the expected value and chance-constrained programming techniques. The model simultaneously minimizes the total cost, size, and execution time of the modular software system subject to many realistic constraints including system reliability, delivery time, and compatibility issues among the available COTS products. We use a two-phase interactive approach as the solution methodology. An empirical study is included to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model and the solution approach in real-world applications of COTS selection. Further, a thorough performance analysis and comparison is done to claim the superiority of the proposed methodology over the existing fuzzy programming approaches used for COTS products selection problem.

A FUZZY APPROACH TO MULTIOBJECTIVE COTS PRODUCTS SELECTION OF MODULAR SOFTWARE SYSTEMS USING EXPONENTIAL MEMBERSHIP FUNCTIONS

In this paper, we study a decision-making problem related to software creation using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products in a modular software system. The optimal selection of COTS products is difficult due to the variations in various critical parameters such as cost, reliability, execution time, and delivery time. Further, it is difficult to estimate precisely the values of these parameters since sufficient data may not be available and also there could be measurement errors. We present a fuzzy 0–1 optimization model of the multiobjective COTS products selection problem using exponential membership functions that simultaneously minimize the total cost, size, execution time and delivery time and maximize the reliability of a modular software system subject to many realistic constraints. The fuzzy goals are defined for each selection criterion as per the preferences of the decision maker and are aggregated using product operator to obtain an equivalent optimization model for optimal COTS selection. A real-world case study is discussed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model and the solution methodology.

A MULTI-CHOICE GOAL PROGRAMMING APPROACH FOR COTS PRODUCTS SELECTION OF MODULAR SOFTWARE SYSTEMS

In this paper, we propose a multi-choice goal programming (MCGP) model of the multi-objective commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products selection problem. The proposed model simultaneously minimize the total cost, size, execution time and delivery time and maximize the system reliability of a modular software system subject to many realistic constraints including incompatibility among COTS products. We assume that the decision maker provides multiple aspiration levels regarding cost, size, execution time, delivery time and reliability objectives using discrete choices. To obtain efficient COTS selection plans, we use MCGP methodology to solve the COTS products selection problem. A real-world case study is discussed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model and methodology.

Problems With COTS Software: A Case Study

This article reports on the use of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) software for developing a dynamic environment for an online public access catalogue (OPAC). COTS products are widely used throughout the industry. While there are many potential benefits, use of COTS components is also fraught with pitfalls. The research on creating a dynamic environment for OPACs is based on the previous work in this area, Public Access Catalogue Extension (PACE), which was developed with custom-based software programs. Although in the previous research project all the programs were successfully developed in C and C++, the present project relied very little on original and custom programming. Instead, a number of COTS products were used to construct the dynamic environment: Macromedia Director, 3D Dreams, Extreme 3D, Crossroads, and Easybase. These COTS products were chosen for their ability to produce the desired results, their availability at reasonable costs, and their capability to integrate with one another. A small experimental database with one hundred MARC records was constructed in Easybase. Models were built in Extreme 3D and converted to 3D Studio using Crossroads. These models were used in 3D Dreams to create three-dimensional environments for use in Macromedia Director.

Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Software in Defence Systems

The use of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) has become a new strategy in defence industries to reduce system life-cycle cost. The notion that system components had to be specially certified for use in a harsh environment has been overtaken by the advantage of leveraging of commercially developed state-of-the-art technology. In fact, the use of COTS, where appropriate, is now mandated by many defence procurement agencies around the world. To facilitate the incorporation of COTS products, the environment is adapted to the usually less stringent required, such us reducing vibration, electromagnetic shielding, cooling, etc. Some COTS items, such as commercial software, may be modified to suit the defence requirements, so called Modified-Off-The-Shelf (MOTS). A particular concern in the use of COTS is the mismatch between the relative short life-cycle of a COTS product to that of an overall defence system. The obsolescence of COTS items has to be managed. This paper discusses a number of issues associated with the incorporation of COTS components, particularly software, in defence systems, their support and obsolescence management.

Sensor fusion by a novel algorithm for time delay estimation

Time delay estimation (TDE) is a growing area of mathematical research, finding applications in a wide range of fields including medical imaging and sensor fusion. Numerous TDE algorithms have been constructed, often in response to particular real-world problems. A sensor fusion problem for localising a mobile robot has previously arisen for which Zaman created an appropriate TDE algorithm and made conjectures from the data the algorithm produced. The algorithm is novel in that it can synchronise data streams to guaranteed bounds from discrete sensor readings alone. A new algorithm was needed for the mobile robot problem because the sensors were commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products manufactured to different specifications. They took readings at different frequencies and their clocks were independent. The increasing dissemination of COTS products is likely to lead to further applications for [email protected]?s algorithm. In this paper we have given the algorithm a rigorous grounding, proving that it converges to estimates of sub-sample accuracy. We have also numerically investigated convergence rates and shown how results from a real-world robot experiment resemble corresponding simulations.

A MEMBERSHIP FUNCTION APPROACH FOR COST-RELIABILITY TRADE-OFF OF COTS SELECTION IN FUZZY ENVIRONMENT

The optimization techniques used in commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) selection process faces challenges to deal with uncertainty in many important selection parameters, for example, cost, reliability and delivery time. In this paper, we propose a fuzzy optimization model for selecting the best COTS product among the available alternatives for each module in the development of modular software systems. The proposed model minimizes the total cost of the software system satisfying the constraints of minimum threshold on system reliability, maximum threshold on the delivery time of the software, and incompatibility among COTS products. In order to deal with uncertainty in real-world applications of COTS selection, the coefficients of the cost objective function, delivery time constraints and minimum threshold on reliability are considered fuzzy numbers. The fuzzy optimization model is converted into a pair of mathematical programming problems parameterized by possibility (feasibility) level α using Zadeh's extension principle. The solutions of the resultant problems at different α-cuts provide lower and upper bounds of the fuzzy minimum total cost which helps in constructing the membership function of the cost objective function. The solution approach provide fuzzy solutions instead of a single crisp solution thereby giving decision maker enough flexibility in maintaining cost-reliability trade-off of COTS selection besides meeting other important system requirements. A real-world case study is discussed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model in fuzzy environment.

Mismatch handling for COTS selection: a case study

AbstractUsing Commercial Off‐The‐Shelf (COTS) products to build software systems requires the evaluation of existing COTS products, the selection of the COTS that best fit system requirements, and the integration of the selected COTS into the system. During this process, it is inevitable to encounter two types of mismatches: (1) COTS mismatches, which are encountered during COTS selection between requirements and COTS features, due to an excess or shortage of COTS features, and (2) architectural mismatches, which arise when integrating multiple COTS products that do not fit well together. This paper focuses on the ‘COTS mismatch’ problem. The paper describes a real‐world case study of a single COTS selection with the aid of a method called MiHOS (Mismatch Handling for COTS Selection) to handle the COTS mismatches. MiHOS runs on top of existing COTS selection models in order to properly address COTS mismatches with limited resources. The case study was conducted in the e‐service domain. The goal was to validate MiHOS and to answer two key questions: (1) How useful is decision support during different phases in the process mismatch handling? And (2) what is the effort vs benefit of using MiHOS? The results are promising and illustrate the potential benefits of using MiHOS. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

COTS selection using fuzzy interactive approach

In this paper, we introduce fuzzy mathematical programming (FMP) for decision-making related to software creation by selecting optimal commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products in a modular software system. Each module in such software systems have different alternatives with variations in their properties, for example, quality, reliability, execution time, size and cost. Due to these variations, component-based software developers generally deals with the problem of selecting appropriate COTS products. The development of COTS-based systems largely depends on the success of the selection process. Various crisp optimization models of COTS products selection have been proposed in literature. However, in real COTS products selection problem, it is difficult to estimate precisely the values of various model parameters due to lack of sufficient data and also because of measurement errors. Hence, instead of crisp optimization model, if we use flexible optimization model then we might obtain results which are more preferred by the decision maker. In this study, we use multiple methodologies such as quality model, analytical hierarchy process and FMP to develop fuzzy multiobjective optimization model of the COTS products selection. To determine a preferred compromise solution for the multiobjective optimization problem, an interactive fuzzy approach is used.

Test program set data collection and data mining

This paper discusses tools and techniques for TPS data collection and near real-time data processing and visualization using commercial, off-the-shelf products (COTS) such as Microsoft® SQL Server® database software and Visual Studio® development system. We show examples of how to add simple data collection and processing methods to the UUT test process using .NET programming languages.

SDCS: six-dimensional classification strategy framework for COTS products

Component-based software development (CBSD) has given a new direction for developing just-in-time to market, cost-effective, easily maintainable and customer requirement-based software systems. Using CBSD, software systems can be built by two techniques. The first technique involves integration of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components with the existing system while with the second technique a whole new system can be developed by identifying and integrating appropriate COTS. This has lead to a major issue of how to classify COTS products. Classification can help both industry as well as researchers to assess and compare COTS products. This can be achieved by evolving and identifying appropriate classes on the basis of classification attributes. This paper discusses six-dimensional classification strategy framework for COTS products.

The eArchive Service: A practical, cost-effective and sustainable approach for preserving authentic electronic records at AstraZeneca

Long-term retention of authentic electronic records is of significant importance to the pharmaceutical industry, from many standpoints including legal, regulatory and intellectual property protection. The risk of losing access to critical business information in the future could potentially be detrimental to a pharmaceutical business. The industry in the main has relied on a variety of archival approaches, such as using file systems and content management systems and keeping operational systems alive beyond their intended lifetime; unfortunately, none of these approaches are sustainable in the long-term and do not address the serious issue of loss of access through technology obsolescence.The eArchive service has been developed by AstraZeneca to manage the long-term preservation of electronic records, and to begin to address the issue of technology obsolescence. The system is intended to ingest and reliably maintain electronic records from all areas of the global business with retention periods ranging from seven years to many decades. A wide variety of both proprietary and non-proprietary formats are used for the creation of AstraZeneca records; to date, there has been little focus on generating records in formats suitable for long-term preservation. As a result, many records requiring long-term retention may become at risk of format obsolescence unless action is taken. The eArchive service contains mechanisms to mitigate against such risks and facilitate continued access to authentic content throughout a records retention period. In addition to ensuring continued access, strict records management policies must also be enforced. Material must be disposed of once its retention period has been reached, as long as it is not required for ongoing litigation (on legal hold).This paper describes a practical and extensible approach employed by the eArchive service for providing cost-effective and sustainable access to electronic records over time. The solution has been developed in accordance with the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) reference model and AstraZeneca's own enterprise architecture. Consideration has also been given to records management activities, such as appraisal and disposition that are not described within the OAIS reference model.The primary approach has been to maximize the use of robust COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) products to form the core of the solution. Customizations are applied where appropriate. Concepts and tools developed by the EU Planets program have also been incorporated into the design, as well as aspects of metadata standards such as PREMIS and Dublin Core.Format migration has been adopted as the long-term preservation mechanism, in addition to a policy of accepting only a limited number of “Preservation Ready” formats. As a result, many of the format migrations will take place prior to ingest into the eArchive system. This paper will describe in detail the approach to preservation policy, identification and selection of preservation pathways and methods of validating the authenticity for long-term preservation of digital images. The tiered fidelity model, based on business requirements, will also be introduced and described in detail.