The Resource Management Segment - A Case Study in the Role of Software Architecture in the Systems Engineering Process

摘要

This paper provides a case study of the development of the Resource Management Segment (RMS) of the air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN). The focus of the study is the role of the system architecture in the systems engineering process for this project. The RMS project was an attempt to modernize and consolidate software used for AFSCN resource scheduling, orbit analysis, and resource monitoring. The approach taken by the responsible contractor was to do a complete object-oriented development using the 4+1 View methodology described by Phillipe Kruchten in (Kruchten 1995). Specifically, this paper outlines the architectural approach, describes kiey issues that arose, and discusses the processes that surrounded the architecture. The discussion is focused on how the architecture fits into the RMS systems engineering approach. Finally, some lessons learned are summarized.