Using Scenarios to Predict the Reliability of Concurrent Component-Based Software Systems

Abstract

Abstract. Scenarios are a popular means for capturing behavioural requirements of software systems early in the lifecycle. Scenarios show how components interact to provide system level functionality. If component reliability information is available, scenarios can be used to perform early system reliability assessment. In this paper we present a novel automated approach for predicting software system reliability. The approach involves extending a scenario specification to model (1) the probability of component failure, and (2) scenario transition probabilities derived from an operational profile of the system. From the extended scenario specification, probabilistic behaviour models are synthesized for each component and are then composed in parallel into a model for the system. Finally, a user-oriented reliability model described by Cheung is used to compute a reliability prediction from the system behaviour model. The contribution of this paper is a reliability prediction technique that takes into account the component structure exhibited in the scenarios and the concurrent nature of component-based systems. We also show how implied scenarios induced by the component structure and system behaviour described in the scenarios can be used to evolve the reliability prediction.

Predicting Faults before Testing Phase using Halstead's Metrics

“…They have shown that RADL allows software architects to predict component reliability through compositional analysis of usage profiles and of environment component reliability [5] Genaina Rodrigues, David Rodenblum presents a novel automatic approach for predicting software system reliability. This approach involves the probability of component failure and Scenario transition probabilities derived from an operational profile [6]. L Thomas Zimmermann, Nachiappan Nagappan shows how to use the complexity of a subsystem dependency graph to predict the number of failures at statistically significant levels [7].…”

OntoArch Approach for Reliability-Aware Software Architecture Development

“…Most promising reliability evaluation methods, i.e. the methods from Cortellessa et al [17], Rodrigues et al [18], Yacoub et al [19], Reussneer et al [20], and Grassi [21] have been compared in [22] from the viewpoint of software architecture. The Reliability and Availability Prediction (RAP) method [23] and the Quality Requirements of a software Family (QRF) method [24] highlight how quality requirements have to be defined, represented and transformed to architectural models.…”

Sensitivity analysis for a scenario-based reliability prediction model

“…In previous work, we presented a scenario-based approach to reliability prediction of concurrent systems by synthesizing architecture model from scenario specification [8]. The contribution of this paper is to show how our reliability prediction technique can provide guidance towards enhancing the reliability of the software system.…”

“…The method is based on the annotation of a scenario specification with probabilistic properties and the use of a probabilistic labelled transition system (LTS) synthesised from the scenario specification for the software reliability prediction. We refer the reader to our earlier paper for a more detailed explanation of our model [8].…”