40 Years of Computing at Newcastle

Department Technical Report Series No. 555

Standards for Assured Legacy Systems.

M. Heather and B.N. Rossiter.

University of Newcastle upon Tyne. 1996

Abstract

A formal model, based on the ISO standards for Information Resource Dictionary Systems (IRDS), is developed with the aim of providing a complete definition of an information system from the physical data values held to the concepts employed for data and function representation and real-world abstractions. It is discussed how such a multi-level model can be used to control the evolution of information systems by creating an environment where heterogeneous systems can be compared. Current trends towards more structured programming techniques and more disciplined software engineering environments lead to the potential for considerable benefits from using an IRDS approach. This potential, however, will only be realized if a formal underpinning of the IRDS standard is achieved.

Department Technical Report Series - 1996
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Technical Report Abstract No. 555, 30 June 1997