Tool Integration Framework Research Articles

A Tool Integration Framework for Sustainable Embedded Systems Development

Tool integration in the context of embedded systems development and maintenance is challenging due to such systems' lengthy life cycles and adaptability to process specifications. The iFEST framework provides flexibility in development processes and extends support for long product life cycles.

PRI-CAT: a web-tool for the analysis, storage and visualization of plant ChIP-seq experiments

Although several tools for the analysis of ChIP-seq data have been published recently, there is a growing demand, in particular in the plant research community, for computational resources with which such data can be processed, analyzed, stored, visualized and integrated within a single, user-friendly environment. To accommodate this demand, we have developed PRI-CAT (Plant Research International ChIP-seq analysis tool), a web-based workflow tool for the management and analysis of ChIP-seq experiments. PRI-CAT is currently focused on Arabidopsis, but will be extended with other plant species in the near future. Users can directly submit their sequencing data to PRI-CAT for automated analysis. A QuickLoad server compatible with genome browsers is implemented for the storage and visualization of DNA-binding maps. Submitted datasets and results can be made publicly available through PRI-CAT, a feature that will enable community-based integrative analysis and visualization of ChIP-seq experiments. Secondary analysis of data can be performed with the aid of GALAXY, an external framework for tool and data integration. PRI-CAT is freely available at http://www.ab.wur.nl/pricat. No login is required.

MDI: A Rule-based Multi-document and Tool Integration Approach

Nowadays, typical software and system engineering projects in various industrial sectors (automotive, telecommunication, etc.) involve hundreds of developers using quite a number of different tools. Thus, the data of a project as a whole is distributed over these tools. Therefore, it is necessary to make the relationships of different tool data repositories visible and keep them consistent with each other. This still is a nightmare due to the lack of domain-specific adaptable tool and data integration solutions which support maintenance of traceability links, semi-automatic consistency checking as well as incremental update propagation. Currently used solutions are usually hand-coded one-way transformations between pairs of tools only. In this article we propose a new rule-based approach that allows for the declarative specification of data integration rules concerning multiple data repositories. Hence, we call our approach “Multi Document Integration”. It generalizes the formalism of triple graph grammars and replaces the underlying data structure of directed graphs by the more general data structure of MOF-compliant meta models. Our integration rule specifications are translated into JMI-compliant Java code which is used for various purposes by a tool integration framework. As a result we give an answer to OMG’s request for proposals for a MOF-compliant “queries, views, and transformation” approach from the “model driven application development” (MDA) field.

Modular dynamic simulation for integrated particulate processes by means of tool integration

In this contribution a sequential modular strategy for the dynamic simulation of particulate process flowsheets is presented and the efficiency of the approach is demonstrated by means of an example process for the crystallization of pentaerythritol. The flowsheet of the process consists of a number of different unit operations, e.g. evaporator, crystallizer, hydrocyclone, and mixer, which are described by mathematical models of largely varying complexity and structure. A key advantage of the presented sequential modular strategy is that specialized tools can be selected for the modelling and solution of each unit operation in the flowsheet. The tools are then coupled together by means of the tool integration framework CHEOPS in order to capture the overall structure of the flowsheet. In a case study, a startup of a crystallization flowsheet is carried out. As a result, detailed information about the dynamic plantwide process behavior is obtained. The practical relevance of the approach is demonstrated by means of a scenario where potential blocking of the filters following the crystallizer has been analyzed.

A Method for the Selection of Systems Engineering Automated Tools

AbstractThe use of software tools to automate some or all of the systems engineering process holds great promise. Computer‐based tools have provided significant improvements in other disciplinary areas, most notably structural design (CAD), structural analysis (FEM) and software development (CASE). A vendor base has begun to supply tools for the systems engineering discipline and industry has begun to acquire and deploy such tools.However, the tools are expensive, sophisticated, and require significant effort to integrate their use into the system engineers' daily activities. A mechanism is needed for the selection and acquisition of the right tools, and a mechanism for introducing the tools into the systems engineering culture with minimum disruption and expense. This paper addresses the tool selection activity. The paper addresses the selection of a single tool, but the author believes that the method described can be generalized to selection of a tool suite or a tool integration framework.

The Viennese integrated system for technology CAD applications

Modern technology CAD systems consist of several simulation tools and a so-called technology CAD framework for tool integration and tool development. We discuss the general requirements for such a TCAD framework. From a review of existing TCAD systems with an emphasis on software aspects, we deduce general architectural guidelines. Bearing these in mind, we motivate our ideas, concepts and choices for the data level, the user interface and the task level of VISTA, the Viennese Integrated System for Technology-CAD Applications. The resulting structures and implementations of these three major parts of VISTA are then described, and a brief overview of integrated tools and future activities is given.

Object management issues for software engineering environments workshop report

During recent years, several research efforts in the area of software development environments have focused on the provision of uniform Object Management Systems (OMS) as a framework for tool integration and communication. This paper summarizes discussions of an OMS Workshop on the issues that arise in defining an appropriate data model for an OMS.

Object management issues for software engineering environments workshop report

During recent years, several research efforts in the area of software development environments have focused on the provision of uniform Object Management Systems (OMS) as a framework for tool integration and communication. This paper summarizes discussions of an OMS Workshop on the issues that arise in defining an appropriate data model for an OMS.