Multi-level feature treesA pragmatic approach to managing highly complex product families

Alberto Melendez

Method EngineeringUtrecht University

April 10, 2013

Agenda

About the authors

Feature modeling background

Multi-level feature trees

Process Deliverable Diagram

Example

Questions

About the authors

Dr. Mark-Oliver Reiser Technical University Berlin Reiser IT Consulting Compositional Variability Management

Dr. Matthias Weber Technical University Berlin Project Manager at Daimler TSS

Feature modeling

iPod Classic

Control Screen Case

[1] [1] [1]

Software Hardware Headphones

[1] [1] [0..1]

[1] [1]

LED Retina

[1]

Feature modeling paradigm

Feature cardinality

Feature model evolution

Feature-Oriented Reuse Method (Kang et al.,1998)

Conceptual Foundation for Feature Modeling (Asikainen, Männistö, Soinen, 2006)

Cardinality Feature Modeling(Czarnecki & Kim, 2005)

Cardinality Formalization(Czarnecki, Helsen & Eisenecker, 2005a)

Staged Configuration(Czarnecki, Helsen & Eisenecker, 2005b)

Variability managementManaging complex variability(Reiser, 2008)

Product line engineering(Pohl, Böckle & Linden, 2005)

The challenge

Team N Team C Team T Team P Team i

or

Product Line Manager

How does a manager cope with the complexity of managing multiple products in a product line?

Feature Innovations

Feature ReusevsTrade-off

The approach

Creating a multi-level structure of reference models that product line managers can use to guide product evolution.

Product Line Manager

Product Designer

Reference Models

Referring Models

Deviations

Deviation PermissionsDeviation

PermissionsDeviation Permissions

Deviations

Deviations

Multi-level feature trees

Device

Case Screen

Retina LED

MControl

TDevice

Case Screen

Retina LED

iPad

Case Screen

Retina

iPhone

Case Screen

Retina

3G

3G

3G

Deviation Permissio

ns

Deviation Permissio

ns

Deviation Permissio

ns

Allow Delete

Meta-Deliverable Model

Apple Mobile Devices

Device

Case Screen

Retina LED

MControl

[1] [0..1]

[1]

[1]

[1] [1]

[1]

Deviation PermissionsDeviation

PermissionsDeviation Permissions

Add Features

Delete Features

Edit Features

Add Feature Groups

Delete Feature GroupsEdit Feature Groups

Legal Illegal

Product Line Management

Configuration Management

Feature Modeling

Product Evolution Management

Process Deliverable Diagram

iPhone

Case Screen

Retina LED

[1]

[1][1]

[1] [1]

[1]

ExampleTDevice: Feature models that represent Touch Devices.

TDevice

Case Screen

Retina LED

[1]

[1][1]

[1] [1]

[1]

TDevice Reference Model

iPodTouch

Case Screen

Retina LED

[1]

[1][1]

[1] [1]

[1]

TDevice Referring Model

Add Feature: YesDelete Screen: No

Delete LED: Yes

Delete Case: No

Add Feature: YesDelete Screen: No

Delete LED: No

Delete Case: No

Compliant

V1.0

iPhone

Case Screen

Retina

Phone

[1]

[1] [1][1]

[1]

iPodTouch Referring ModeliPodTouch Reference Model

iPodTouch: Feature models that represent iPodTouch devices.

Add Feature: YesDelete Screen: No

Delete LED: Yes

Delete Case: No

V2.0V2.1

Compliant

iPhone

Case Screen

Retina

Phone

[1]

[1] [1][1]

[1]

Questions?