Systems Engineering with SDL
Developing Performance-Critical Communication Systems
1. Edition January 2001
XIV, 366 Pages, Hardcover
Handbook/Reference Book
Short Description
Performance problems make projects fail. Unfortunately, they are often detected late in the development cycle adding considerable cost to the project and increasing time-to-market. 'Systems Engineering with SDL' is a practical guide to designing and implementing communication systems and distributed applications, which tackles performance issues at their origin. After introducing the reader to performance engineering concepts, the book focuses on SDL and MSC. SDL is the most widely used formal description technique in the communications arena and is increasing used in conjunction with UML to support formal design and implementation. The book goes on to demonstrate how to deal with specific issues such as inappropriate performance requirements, unsuitable system architecture and insufficiently detailed design or implementation decisions. Aimed at experienced communication system designers and architects, this book goes beyond the basics to provide a detailed understanding of how to create high-performance real-time applications. · Illustrates how to bring performance and efficiency issues right to the forefront of the design process and ensure they are carried through to implementation. · Guides you through the development process with reference to both waterfall and non-waterfall models. · Provides coding guidelines to ensure implementation is smooth and trouble-free. · Shows how SDL can be used alongside complementary languages and notations. · Addresses project management issues in the development process. · Provides an update on SDL-2000 and the new features that will affect your design.
SDL (Specification and Description Language) is a modern, high-level programming language intended for the description of complex, event-driven, real-time and communicating systems. SDL was originally designed to describe performance-critical, real-time systems with precision and accuracy, and, if used correctly, it can significantly enhance the performance of system designs.
This text is unique in the integration between performance and design issues, describing the specific problems encountered when specifying, designing and implementing communication systems with SDL, and offers experience-based advice and solutions. Other topics covered include
* Navigating through complex design processes
* Strategies for deriving efficient implementations from SDL descriptions
* The latest version of SDL, SDL-2000
Systems Engineering with SDL also includes a CD-ROM containing a demonstration version of Telelogic's SDL design suite 'Tau' - the market leading SDL design tool which further reinforces the comprehensive integration between theory and practice.
Written by a former system architect at Alcatel who currently serves on the ITU standards body for SDL, responsible for the development of performance and time aspects of the standard, this valuable reference resource is principally of use to practitioners using SDL to develop communicating systems, communication protocols, distributed systems, embedded systems, especially systems architects, development engineers and tool builders making strategic design decisions. However, the comprehensive coverage and concise and practical style make this text also applicable to students on graduate level courses on protocol engineering, communication systems engineering and distributed systems.
Preface.
Introduction.
Integration of Performance Aspects in the Development Process.
Design and Implementation of Communicating Systems.
System Development with SDL.
Implementing SDL.
Performance Engineering in the Context of SDL.
Final Remarks.
Bibliography.
Index.
