1. Business Rule Based Configuration Management and Software System Implementation Using Decision Tables
Olegas Vasilecas, Aidas Smaizys
VGTU, Vilnius, Lithuania
ADBIS 2007
Presented by Aidas Smaizys

2. BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's
Introduction
In this presentation we purpose to discuss:
Deployment and customization of the software in different information systems (IS) of separate organizations.
Business rule (BR) based Configuration management and use for IS engineering.
Automated BR based configuration implementation into the Software system (SS) code.
As the possible solution we will present a method and the results of current experimental evaluation made.
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

3. Overview of the problem domain
BR’s of the same problem domain even in similar organizations are similar:
Similar legal regulation
Similar business processes
Similar infrastructure
Similar integration needs
Similar experience of the employees
Why BR’s are never applied the same way?
Different business policy
Different business processes
Different infrastructure
Different system integration needs
Different experience of the employees
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

4. BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's
Problem formulation
Existing system engineering methods are not capable enough of dealing with the complex and dynamic nature of Business rules in complex, dynamic and slightly different business environment of every specific business system in separate organizations.
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

5. Existing solution of the problem: 1
Splitting the source code line into the alternative paths, implementing specific business requirements by redesigning models through all the entire layers (business system, information system and software system layer) and producing separate executable code;
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

6. Existing solution of the problem: 2
Design and implementation of modular software system architecture and customization of the separate modules according to the customers needs;
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

7. Existing solution of the problem: 3
Implementation of all the possible variations of the same business rules application into the software code and activation using specific parameter values for every particular implementation;
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

8. Existing solution of the problem: 4
Business system adaptation according to the constraints caused by particular implementation of business rules hard coded into the software system.
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

9. The proposed solution:
The method for automated business rule based configuration implementation and configuration management into the information system for use by software systems and services.
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

10. BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's
The method
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

11. The method. Main engineering processes
Decision table (DT) transformation into the ER model and generation of DBMS for initial configuration.
ER model redesign and accommodation for Business level and Software system (SS) code generation.
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

12. BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's
1. Engineering context vs. Architectural context: DT transformation into the DBMS
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

13. BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's
DT and it’s metamodel
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

14. ER and DT metamodel (MOF/UML) mapping
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

15. Transformation model (XSLT)
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

16. Example of Configuration representation in DT
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

17. BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's
Example of DT transformation into the ER model and generated tables in the DBMS with initially filled values
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

18. BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's
2. Engineering context vs. Architectural context: Business level ER based SS code generation
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

19. Example of generated source code: Pass issue process interface.
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

20. Experimental evaluation
The method was used for development of automated security system in the sea port:
Transport and visitor control subsystem;
Subsystem for interactive data exchange with security system controllers;
Subsystem for logical control code generation (Horn clauses) and upload into the security system controllers;
Subsystem for data exchange with external servers;
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

21. BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's
Contribution
The proposed method has introduced an idea of using BR represented in DT’s for IS development, customization and evolution:
BR based SS adaptation to the particular business system needs.
Metamodel based transformations for automated implementation of BR’s, formally represented in DT’s and changing all the dependent models through the layers down until the implementation into the SS configuration (DBMS and SS code).
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

22. BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's
Conclusions
The proposed method allowed automated implementation of BR into the SS configuration:
configuration parameter semantics can be expressed for business users in plain text;
Configuration parameter sets (collections) can be designed, viewed and edited using DT’s or ER’s by system analysts and designers;
Programmers do not influence BR based part of the SS code – it is made automated way;
The proposed method allowed customization and deployment of the software in different information systems of separate organizations:
by changing configuration parameter values;
by running semi automated engineering process using existing transformations.
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's

23. BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's
Thank you!
Your questions please?
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BR Based Configuration Management and SS Implementation Using DT's