Software architecture reliability analysis using failure scenarios

We propose an approach for analyzing software architectures with respect to reliability to improve fault tolerance. The approach defines a failure scenario model that is based on the established failure modes and effects analysis method (FMEA) in the reliability engineering domain. Failure scenarios are systematically derived from a fault domain model and expressed using a failure scenario model. The developed failure scenarios are utilized to derive socalled fault tree sets (FTS) that are prioritized based on severity from the user perspective. Severity analysis is provided for the top-level architecture and the most relevant fault categories are identified for the individual components. The method results in an impact analysis report that can be utilized for improving reliability of the software architecture with respect to user-perceived failures. The ideas are illustrated using an industrial case for analyzing reliability of the software architecture for a Digital TV. Keywords rel...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2008
• Where: JSS
• Authors: Bedir Tekinerdogan, Hasan Sözer, Mehmet Aksit
• Keywords: Failure Scenario Model, Failure Scenarios, JSS 2008, Software Architecture