Taming Graphical Modeling

Visual models help to understand complex systems. However, with the user interaction paradigms established today, activities such as creating, maintaining or browsing visual models can be very tedious. Valuable engineering time is wasted with archaic activities such as manual placement and routing of nodes and edges. This report presents an approach to enhance productivity by focusing on the pragmatics of model-based design. Our contribution is twofold: First, the concept of meta layout enables the synthesis of different diagrammatic views on graphical models. This modularly employs sophisticated layout algorithms, closing the gap between MDE and graph drawing theory. Second, a view management logic harnesses this auto layout to present customized views on models. These concepts have been implemented in the open source Kiel Integrated Environment for Layout Eclipse Rich Client (KIELER). Two applications---editing and simulation---illustrate how view management helps to increase developer productivity and tame model complexity

On the Pragmatics of Model-Based Design

The pragmatics of model-based design refers to the practical aspects of handling graphical system models. This encompasses a range of activities, such as editing, browsing or simulating models. We believe that the pragmatics of modeling deserves more attention than it has received so far. We also believe that there is the potential for significant productivity enhancements, using technology that is largely already available. A key enabler here is the capability to automatically and quickly compute the layout of a graphical model, which frees the designer from the burden of manual drawing. This capability also allows to compute customized view of a model on the fly, which offers new possibilities for interactive browsing and for simulation

Enhancing Graphical Model-Based System Design: An Avionics Case Study

Graphical model-based system design is very appealing. However, there exist many different formalisms, with different semantics---as far as they do have well-defined semantics---and differing capabilities of the accompanying tools. In this paper, we present a case study from the avionics domain and report on the experiences in using different modeling languages and tools. The focus here is on the pragmatics of modeling, i. e., the practical process of building and inspecting graphical models. The underlying application is a high-lift ï¬ap system, which is highly safety-critical and served as a demonstrator within the Dependable Embedded Components and Systems (DECOS) project that explored the design of distributed dependable systems build on time-triggered architectures. Specifically, we compare a realization in the Safety Critical Application Development Environment (SCADE), a commercial tool from Esterel-Technologies, with a design in the Kiel Integrated Environment for Layout (KIEL), a research tool that allows to explore novel model handling paradigms. Hence we compare traditional graphical drag-and-drop WYSIWYG modeling with alternative, productivity enhancing approaches. We conclude with a brief outlook on future extensions which will tightly integrate with existing tools based on the Eclipse platform

Über die Pragmatik der Graphischen Modellierung

Graphical models help to understand complex systems. However, with the user interaction paradigms established today, activities such as creating, maintaining or browsing graphical models can be very tedious. This thesis presents an approach to enhance productivity by focusing on the pragmatics of model-based design. The contribution includes an interpretation of the notion of pragmatics, orthogonal to syntax and semantics in Model-Driven Engineering (MDE). A proposal on pragmatics-aware modeling is given, employing sophisticated automated layout algorithms to close the gap between MDE and graph drawing theory. Thus, a view management logic presents customized views on models. These concepts get illustrated with the open source Kiel Integrated Environment for Layout Eclipse Rich Client (KIELER) with multiple applications including editing and simulation and shows how view management helps to tame complexity

Automatic Layout of Data Flow Diagrams in KIELER and Ptolemy II

Data flow diagrams are successfully applied in the area of model-based design of complex embedded systems. However, their creation and maintenance can be very time-consuming, because many tools offer little support for the editing and visualization of graphical models. The KIELER project explores new concepts for the pragmatics of graphical modeling and develops algorithms for automatic layout of specific classes of diagrams. These concepts and algorithms are implemented as extensions of the Eclipse framework, which offers generic approaches to create IDEs for graphical modeling. We have developed a specialized layout algorithm for data flow diagrams. In addition to the embedding in KIELER, we applied this algorithm to Ptolemy, a framework for research on models of computation for use in embedded systems. The results show that our algorithm is well suited for the actor oriented diagrams of Ptolemy, and it can serve as a basis to facilitate the editing of Ptolemy diagrams

Semantics and Execution of Domain Specific Models

In this paper we present a two-level approach to extend the abstract syntax of models with concrete semantics. First, a light-weight execution interface for iteratable models with a generic user interface allows the tool smith to provide arbitrary execution and visualization engine implementations for his or her Domain Specific Modeling Language (DSML). We discuss how the common execution manager runtime allows co-simulations of different model types and engine implementations to provide a flexible framework in the diverse DSML scenery. Second, as a concrete but nevertheless generic implementation of a simulation engine for behavior models, we present semantic model specifications and a runtime interfacing to the Ptolemy II tool suite. As a project in the area of model simulation, the latter provides a mature sophisticated and formally grounded backbone for model execution. We present our approach as an open source Eclipse integration to be an extension to the Eclipse modeling projects. After introducing basic concepts, the paper explains how simulations are currently being integrated into the framework and presents some illustrative case studies also covering UML approaches

Executing Domain-Specific Models in Eclipse: KLEPTO - KIELER leveraging Ptolemy

We present a two-level approach to extend the abstract syntax of domain-specific models with concrete semantics in order to execute such models. First, a light-weight execution infrastructure for executable models with a generic user interface allows the tool smith to provide arbitrary execution and visualisation engine implementations for a Domain-Specific Language (DSL). Second, as a concrete but nevertheless generic implementation of a simulation engine for behaviour models, we present semantic model specifications and a runtime interfacing to the Ptolemy II tool suite as a formally founded backbone for model execution. We present our approach as an open source extension to Eclipse modelling projects

The Influence of Formats and Preferences on the Aesthetic Experience of Classical Music Concert Streams

Music is listened to in many different situational and media frames that can be expected to shape its experience. In this study, we were interested in the effects that different formats of audiovisual streaming of classical concerts can have on the aesthetic experience of their audience. We also investigated the effects of preferences for streaming features. A total of N =525 participants watched one of four chamber music concert streams and reported their expectations, appreciation, and experiences. Overall, participants liked the concerts and reported positive experiences. The immersive emotional and social dimensions of aesthetic experiences with music, however, were only rarely activated, showing the disadvantage of recorded as compared to live performances. Several experience dimensions were influenced by streaming format: a stream that allowed audience members to interact on a chat platform afforded a stronger social experience, but less concentration; while a stream that included an introductory talk led to a better understanding of the programming and increased feelings of melancholy. Effects of the preference for certain stream types were only found in the stream that most resembled a standard audiovisual concert broadcast but were leveled out in other stream formats explicitly designed to counterbalance known disadvantages of nonlive performances. From our study, we draw conclusions regarding the importance of an experimental approach to frame effects not only on the aesthetic experience of music but also on the future of concert streams as a new musical medium in its own (aesthetic) right