A new method for constructing and reusing domain specific design patterns: Application to RT domain

Domain specific design patterns capture domain knowledge and provide solutions of non trivial design problems in a specific domain. Their application improves considerably the quality of software design. In order to benefit from these advantages and to reinforce the application of these patterns, we provide, in this paper, new processes and tools for the development and the instantiation of domain specific design patterns, especially those intended for real-time domain. Initially, we propose a pattern development process that guides pattern developers in the construction of patterns. The proposed process defines unification rules that apply a set of comparison criteria on various applications in the pattern domain. This process is illustrated through the design of the controller pattern. Moreover, we propose a process guiding the application designers in pattern instantiation based on model transformation. Finally, the proposed RT patterns and their development process are evaluated by calculating quality metrics and comparing the applications designed with our RT patterns and others developed by experts without the use of our patterns.