Objective
- To deliver an object-oriented service creation environment, based on the rapid adaptation of existing software engineering tools.
- To evaluate and demonstrate the environment through a series of trials.
- To ensure the availability of service engineering tools for use by application pilots.
- To ensure the uptake of the environment by the telecommunications service industry.
- To contribute to consensus formation on the IBC service infrastructure.
The main objectives of the research were:
to deliver an object oriented service creation environment, based on the rapid adaptation of existing software engineering tools;
to evaluate and demonstrate the environment through a series of trials;
to ensure the availability of service engineering tools for use by application pilots;
to ensure the uptake of the environment by the telecommunications service industry;
to contribute to consensus formation on the integrated broadband communication (IBC) service infrastructure.
Key issues in the research were:
support for the service development life cycle;
complex requirements from different domains;
usability;
a component based, object oriented approach;
flexibility and openness of tools and environment;
proving the applicability of current technology;
ensuring uptake.
EAST has been selected as the platform for the environment. A number of software tools, covering each of the steps in the service engineering life cycle, have been selected for use in the trials and are undergoing evaluation prior to specific enhancements being defined.
The trial scenarios have been specified. The trial at the RIA network in Aveiro covers the provision of services on the intelligent network. SEL is running a trial based on the provision of multimedia services on a metropolitan area network in Stuttgart and the BERKOM network in Berlin is being used to provide a medical consultation service involving the transmission of 3-dimensional tomographs between hospitals and consultants.
Technical Approach
BOOST focuses on the construction of a Service Creation Environment (SCE) software engineering tools and methods. The approach is to apply such a set of tools, integrated within an environment, and enhance these based on the experiences of service engineers in a comprehensive set of field trials. Each trial has an environment configured for its specific requirements based on a common platform.
Object-oriented techniques are explored to ensure maximum benefit from the reuse of existing and new service components. The aspects of reuse are considered at all phases of the service engineering lifecycle and not limited to those phases concerned with software development. Issues of openness, in the context of the Open Services Architecture (OSA), are considered as relevant to the tools of the SCE as much as to the services created by it.
The final phase will define a set of reference points by which the SCE interacts with related external agencies such as the target network and human actors, during the procedures of services testing, service deployment and service monitoring. In particular, the transition from service creation to service provision will be investigated through a practical implementation of the 'deployment' reference point.
Key Issues
- Support for the service development life-cycle.
- Enabling technology for rapid service creation.
- Component based, object-oriented approach.
- Flexibility and openness of tools and environment.
- Applicability to the general service provision market.
- Integration of IT and Telecommunication communities.
- Tool and environment integration.
- Deployment of services into the network.
Expected Impact
Subject to trial verification, the BOOST Service Creation Environment will show applicability and effectiveness of methods and techniques for service engineering to help achieve rapid introduction of effective services.
Fields of science
Topic(s)
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NE8 1HE Gateshead
United Kingdom