Architecture Modeling - SPES 2020

Architecture Modeling
structed for every combination of abstraction level and perspective, representing a view of the
system under development.
2.3.2.2 Composition
The ports of HRCs used as parts in the context of another HRC are interconnected forming a
composition of HRCs. In a component-based design there are two use-cases for the composition
concept. A component can be decomposed(↑) into smaller subcomponents in a top-down approach.
So, a large design is split into smaller components, that can be implemented or further
decomposed. Following a bottom-up approach one can also specify components and integrate
them in a composition to realize its specification.
ComponentC
delegation
connector
part2:ComponentB
part1:ComponentA
ComponentB
C2
C12
assembly
connector
ComponentA
C1
Figure 2.10: Compositions of components
To decide whether an HRC can be used in a given context and connected with other HRCs,
the ports that are connected must be compatible. Compatibility of ports is discussed in Section
3.3.2.2. Figure 2.10 shows the distinction between delegation connectors and assembly
connectors. The former connect the outer ports of an HRC to ports of its constituting parts. So
in order to connect the ports they must have the same direction. Assembly connectors link the
parts of a composition to each other.
Additionally with regard to the contracts a Virtual Integration Test(↑) must be carried out (cf.
Section 4.2). Related to the example from Figure 2.10 it must be checked, that the contracts C1
and C2 are compatible and that together with the interconnection they are a valid refinement of
C12.
p1
p2
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