Generalized Nets Model of an E-Learning System Software Architecture

Abstract

Component-based software engineering and software architecture are tightly connected areas in computer science. Software architecture presents the functionality of the system as decomposition into components, the properties of these components and the connectors between them. This paper illustrates a methodology for application of the theory of Generalized Nets (GNs) as a language for description of software systems architecture. According to this methodology, every component in the system, as well as every connector is represented by a single GN transition. This way the positions of the transition describe the ports of components and connectors in the system. This paper introduces a model of the component-based architecture of the e-learning system ARCADE, which is created, with respect to the proposed methodology for description with GNs. The four main subsystems are regarded as components in the GNs model. Their additional sub-modules are presented as the services provided by the components. Method calls are regarded as the connectors between these components. Further, the GNs model is compared with the existing UML diagrams, specifying the design of ARCADE.