A data-centric executable modeling approach for system-of-systems architecture

A data-centric executable modeling approach is proposed for system-of-Systems (SoS) architecture by taking full advantage of the Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) Meta-model (DM2), which provides more flexibility and adaptability to the automated construction of executable models directly from the architectural data. Firstly, the architectural data meta-model is established to guide architectural data modeling of core data elements and associations in DM2 as the common and consistent data dictionary for architecture modeling, and the executable formalism meta-model is designed to formally define executable models. Then, the mapping rules between both meta-models are defined as the common transformation specification regardless of what modeling language or methodology is employed in developing architectural descriptions. Finally, XML (eXtensible Markup Language) technologies are discussed to facilitate the automated transformation of executable models from architectural instance data. Colored Petri Net (CPN) is used as an illustrative executable formalism in the discussion of the proposed approach.