Supervisory Control for Dynamic Feature Configuration in Product Lines

TL;DR

This paper presents a framework for designing supervisory controllers that manage dynamic feature configurations in product lines, ensuring system behavior adheres to specified constraints using automata-based models and supervisory control theory.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach combining feature models, automata, and supervisory control for dynamic configuration management in product lines, demonstrated with industrial-scale examples.

Findings

Successfully applied to a coffee machine model

Feasibility shown for large-scale systems like Body Comfort System

Provides multiple solutions for handling configuration challenges

Abstract

In this paper a framework for engineering supervisory controllers for product lines with dynamic feature configuration is proposed. The variability in valid configurations is described by a feature model. Behavior of system components is achieved using (extended) finite automata and both behavioral and dynamic configuration constraints are expressed by means of requirements as is common in supervisory control theory. Supervisory controller synthesis is applied to compute a behavioral model in which the requirements are adhered to. For the challenges that arise in this setting, multiple solutions are discussed. The solutions are exemplified in the CIF toolset using a model of a coffee machine. A use case of the much larger Body Comfort System product line is performed to showcase feasibility for industrial-sized systems.