Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Specification, Algebra, and Software pp 359–381Cite as

Foundations for Ensemble Modeling – The Helena Approach

Handling Massively Distributed Systems with ELaborate ENsemble Architectures

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNTCS,volume 8373))

Abstract

Ensembles are groups of active entities that collaborate to perform a certain task. Modeling software systems for ensemble execution is challenging since such applications are highly dynamic involving complex interaction structures of concurrently running individuals. In this work, we propose a formal foundation for ensemble modeling based on a rigorous semantic framework. Our approach is centered around the notion of a role expressing the capabilities that a component needs when participating in a specific ensemble. We use ensemble structures to model the structural aspects of collaborations and labeled transition systems to specify the dynamic behavior typical for performing a certain role. Our approach is driven by a clear discrimination between types, used on the specification level, and instances, which form concrete ensembles in an ensemble automaton. The semantics of an ensemble specification is given by the class of all ensemble automata which adhere to the properties of an ensemble structure such that any ensemble member, playing a certain role, exhibits a behavior that is allowed by the role behavior specification.

This work has been partially sponsored by the EU project ASCENS, 257414.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. The ASCENS Project, http://www.ascens-ist.eu

  2. Abeywickrama, D., Bicocchi, N., Zambonelli, F.: SOTA: Towards a General Model for Self-Adaptive Systems. In: 21st IEEE International Workshop on Enabling Technologies: Infrastructure for Collaborative Enterprises, pp. 48–53. IEEE CS Press, Toulouse (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ali, R.A., Bures, T., Gerostathopoulos, I., Hnetynka, P., Keznikl, J., Kit, M., Plasil, F.: DEECo Computational Model - I. Tech. Rep. D3S-TR-2013-01, Charles University in Prague (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Allen, R., Garlan, D.: A Formal Basis for Architectural Connection. ACM Trans. Softw. Eng. Methodol. 6(3), 213–249 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Barros, T., Ameur-Boulifa, R., Cansado, A., Henrio, L., Madelaine, E.: Behavioural models for distributed Fractal components. Annales des Télécommunications 64(1-2), 25–43 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bauer, B., Müller, J.P., Odell, J.: Agent UML: A formalism for specifying multiagent software systems. Int. Journal of Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering 11, 91–103 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Becht, M., Gurzki, T., Klarmann, J., Muscholl, M.: ROPE: Role Oriented Programming Environment for Multiagent Systems. In: Proceedings of the Fourth IECIS International Conference on Cooperative Information Systems, COOPIS 1999, pp. 325–333. IEEE Computer Society, Washington, DC (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  8. ter Beek, M.H., Ellis, C.A., Kleijn, J., Rozenberg, G.: Synchronizations in Team Automata for Groupware Systems. Computer Supported Cooperative Work 12(1), 21–69 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bensalem, S., Bures, T., Combaz, J., De Nicola, R., Hölzl, M., Koch, N., Loreti, M., Tuma, P., Wirsing, M., Zambonelli, F.: A Life Cycle for the Development of Autonomic Systems. In: 3rd Awareness Workshop at SASO 2013 (2013) (submitted)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bernardo, M., Ciancarini, P., Donatiello, L.: Architecting families of software systems with process algebras. ACM Trans. Softw. Eng. Methodol. 11(4), 386–426 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Brim, L., Černá, I., Vařeková, P., Zimmerova, B.: Component-interaction automata as a verification-oriented component-based system specification. SIGSOFT Softw. Eng. Notes 31(2), 4 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Bures, T., Gerostathopoulos, I., Hnetynka, P., Keznikl, J., Kit, M., Plasil, F.: DEECo: An ensemble-based component system. In: Proceedings of CBSE 2013, pp. 81–90. ACM, Vancouver (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Bures, T., Hnetynka, P., Plasil, F.: SOFA 2.0: Balancing Advanced Features in a Hierarchical Component Model. In: SERA, pp. 40–48 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Castagna, G., Dezani-Ciancaglini, M., Padovani, L.: On global types and multi-party sessions. In: Bruni, R., Dingel, J. (eds.) FORTE 2011 and FMOODS 2011. LNCS, vol. 6722, pp. 1–28. Springer, Heidelberg (2011)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  15. Cernuzzi, L., Juan, T., Sterling, L., Zambonelli, F.: The Gaia Methodology: Basic Concepts and Extensions. In: Bergenti, F., Gleizes, M.P. (eds.) Methodologies and Software Engineering for Agent Systems, Multiagent Systems, Artificial Societies, and Simulated Organizations, vol. 11, pp. 69–88. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  16. Coppo, M., Dezani-Ciancaglini, M., Padovani, L., Yoshida, N.: Inference of global progress properties for dynamically interleaved multiparty sessions. In: De Nicola, R., Julien, C. (eds.) COORDINATION 2013. LNCS, vol. 7890, pp. 45–59. Springer, Heidelberg (2013)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. De Nicola, R., Ferrari, G., Loreti, M., Pugliese, R.: A Language-Based Approach to Autonomic Computing. In: Beckert, B., Bonsangue, M.M. (eds.) FMCO 2011. LNCS, vol. 7542, pp. 25–48. Springer, Heidelberg (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  18. De Nicola, R., Loreti, M., Pugliese, R., Tiezzi, F.: SCEL: A Language for Autonomic Computing. Tech. rep., IMT, Institute for Advanced Studies Lucca, Italy (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Futatsugi, K., Goguen, J.A., Jouannaud, J.P., Meseguer, J.: Principles of OBJ2. In: Van Deusen, M.S., Galil, Z. (eds.) POPL, pp. 52–66. ACM Press (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Goguen, J.A., Burstall, R.M.: Institutions: Abstract Model Theory for Specification and Programming. J. ACM 39(1), 95–146 (1992)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  21. Gottlob, G., Schrefl, M., Röck, B.: Extending Object-Oriented Systems with Roles. ACM Trans. Inf. Syst. 14(3), 268–296 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Hennicker, R., Knapp, A.: Modal Interface Theories for Communication-Safe Component Assemblies. In: Cerone, A., Pihlajasaari, P. (eds.) ICTAC 2011. LNCS, vol. 6916, pp. 135–153. Springer, Heidelberg (2011)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  23. Hennicker, R., Knapp, A.: Modal interface theories for communication-safe component assemblies. In: Cerone, A., Pihlajasaari, P. (eds.) ICTAC 2011. LNCS, vol. 6916, pp. 135–153. Springer, Heidelberg (2011)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  24. Hölzl, M., Wirsing, M.: Towards a System Model for Ensembles. In: Agha, G., Danvy, O., Meseguer, J. (eds.) Talcott Festschrift. LNCS, vol. 7000, pp. 241–261. Springer, Heidelberg (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Klarl, A., Hennicker, R.: The Helena Framework, http://www.pst.ifi.lmu.de/Personen/team/klarl/papers/helena.jar

  26. Kristensen, B.B., Østerbye, K.: Roles: Conceptual Abstraction Theory and Practical Language Issues. TAPOS 2(3), 143–160 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  27. van Lamsweerde, A.: Requirements Engineering: From System Goals to UML Models to Software Specifications. Wiley (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Mori, A., Futatsugi, K.: Verifying Behavioural Specifications in CafeOBJ Environment. In: Wing, J.M., Woodcock, J., Davies, J. (eds.) FM 1999. LNCS, vol. 1709, pp. 1625–1643. Springer, Heidelberg (1999)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  29. Nakajima, S., Futatsugi, K.: An Object-Oriented Modeling Method for Algebraic Specifications in CafeOBJ. In: Adrion, W.R., Fuggetta, A., Taylor, R.N., Wasserman, A.I. (eds.) ICSE, pp. 34–44. ACM (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  30. OMG (Object Management Group): OMG Unified Modeling Language Superstructure. Specification, OMG (Object Management Group) (2011), http://www.omg.org/spec/UML/2.4.1/Superstructure/

  31. Rausch, A., Reussner, R., Mirandola, R., Plášil, F. (eds.): The Common Component Modeling Example. LNCS, vol. 5153. Springer, Heidelberg (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Steimann, F.: On the representation of roles in object-oriented and conceptual modelling. Data Knowl. Eng. 35(1), 83–106 (2000)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  33. Szyperski, C.: Component Software: Beyond Object-Oriented Programming, 2nd edn. Addison-Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc., Boston (2002)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  34. Wirsing, M., Hölzl, M., Tribastone, M., Zambonelli, F.: ASCENS: Engineering Autonomic Service-Component Ensembles. In: Beckert, B., Damiani, F., de Boer, S., Bonsangue, M.M. (eds.) FMCO 2011. LNCS, vol. 7542, pp. 1–24. Springer, Heidelberg (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Wooldridge, M., Jennings, N.R., Kinny, D.: The Gaia Methodology for Agent-Oriented Analysis and Design. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems 3(3), 285–312 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Xu, H., Zhang, X., Patel, R.J.: Developing Role-Based Open Multi-Agent Software Systems. International Journal of Computational Intelligence Theory and Practice 2 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany

    Rolf Hennicker & Annabelle Klarl

Authors
  1. Rolf Hennicker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Annabelle Klarl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Network and Information, Senshu University, 2-1-1 Higashi-mita, Tama-ku, 214-8580, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan

    Shusaku Iida

  2. Department of Computer Science, Thomas M. Siebel Center for Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), 201 N. Goodwin Avenue, MC 258, 61801, Urbana, IL, USA

    José Meseguer

  3. School of Information Science, Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), 1-1 Asahidai, 923-1292, Nomi, Ishikawa, Japan

    Kazuhiro Ogata

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hennicker, R., Klarl, A. (2014). Foundations for Ensemble Modeling – The Helena Approach. In: Iida, S., Meseguer, J., Ogata, K. (eds) Specification, Algebra, and Software. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 8373. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54624-2_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54624-2_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-54623-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-54624-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation