I3: a Petri-net based specification method for architectural components

As a research based on technology integration, I³ (pronounced “I cube”) is an executable architectural component description language based on colored Petri-net semantics with the style and understandability of SADT. I³ describes architectural components hierarchically in three levels. First, interface net declares services to be provided to other components. Next, interconnection net specifies the services to be acquired from other components. Finally, interoperation net describes the operational behavior of a component. Through its unique interconnection mechanism, I ³ facilitates the software architect in building an architectural model and formalizing the architectural topology and behavior of each software component as well as the entire system. Implementation of I³ can be made CORBA-compliant