On the use of Coloured Petri Nets in Problem Oriented Software Engineering: the Package Router Example

Hall, Jon G.; Jørgensen, Jens Baek and Rapanotti, Lucia (2007). On the use of Coloured Petri Nets in Problem Oriented Software Engineering: the Package Router Example. Technical Report 2007/01; Department of Computing, The Open University.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21954/ou.ro.0001606c

Abstract

In this paper, we present an approach to specification of IT systems that combines the use of Coloured Petri Nets (CPN) and the Problem Oriented Software Engineering (POSE) framework-an extension and generalisation of Jackson's Problem Frames to the solution of software engineering problems. Through the case study of a package routing system, we demonstrate how a CPN model can be used to make appropriate POSE descriptions and support a POSE argument for the adequacy of a problem's software solution. The suitability of CPN as a description language for POSE is discussed and demonstrated in the study. We found that the ability to execute CPN models offers potential for showing adequacy of solutions, a key aspect of software engineering. Topics. System design using nets; relationship between net theory and other approaches; experience with using nets; higher-level net models (CPN); application of nets to real-time and embedded systems; requirements engineering; Problem Oriented Software Engineering.