SYSTEMS-ENGINEERING OF COMPUTER-BASED SYSTEMS

Designing complex computer-based systems requires sophisticated analys es of end-to-end behavior to assure system feasibility. Since system b ehavior is implemented by software, hardware, and communication compon ents, performing the necessary trade-off studies requires knowledge of those three fields as well as systems engineering. In current practic e, however, the fields are not well integrated. This report from the S tate of Practice Working Group of the IEEE Computer Society Task Force on Engineering of Computer-Based Systems (ECBS) advocates a new disci pline at the systems engineering level. The report addresses the need for an ECBS discipline, identifies current practice and needed researc h, and suggests improvements that are achievable today. It addresses p roblem areas: The ECBS process itself, requirements definition, design , interfaces, management, process automation, and documentation. The r eport concludes that an improved ECBS discipline is necessary for impr oving process and for fostering research and training. It would promot e concurrent engineering through integrated languages and dialogue, un ified models and repositories, tool frameworks, and cross training.