Bosch buyout opts for UML modelling tool

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team May 17, 2005

ServiceForce has selected Real-time Studio to complement its software and systems development methodology.

Artisan Software Tools, a global leader for UML-based, real-time systems and software modelling tools, announced today that ServiceForce, a management buyout of Tenovis, formerly Bosch Telecom's PBX-telecom business division, has selected Real-time Studio to complement its software and systems development methodology.

ServiceForce has selected Artisan's Real-time Studio Professional as the UML modelling tool to complement its quality driven software development methodology for modelling systems behaviour.

Originally experts in communications technology, the engineers at ServiceForce are very familiar with object-oriented tools for software design and implementation.

In order to optimise the development process, ServiceForce searched for a methodology and tool in the requirements engineering domain, as one of the main reasons for problems within complex, software-driven electronic systems is insufficient requirements analysis.

Bernhard Guttler, Head of the Automotive Section of ServiceForce stated: "We decided to standardise on the Unified Modelling Language (UML) for modelling requirements, mainly to describe systems behaviour and interworking in a graphical way, rather than simply relying on textual specifications".

"After an intensive evaluation phase, we decided in favour of Artisan.

Our goal is to form a complete and integrated methodology known as quality driven system development, modelling not only the functional behaviour of a system, but also nonfunctional quality aspects and risk analysis".

"Artisan offers many flexible possibilities beyond the standard UML diagrams, which allows our models to contain a tremendous amount of information that can later be used in the testing phase at the conclusion of the product development cycle".

"In this context, we are also able to automatically generate test cases out of specific UML diagrams for special test automation systems, and this aligns perfectly with our quality driven system development goals".

Guttler continued: "The intentions of Artisan and ServiceForce are very similar, and completely complementary: Artisan is a tool manufacturer and ServiceForce offers engineering and consulting services".

"We pull together and support each other on the right path to a modern 'quality driven system development'".

Jeremy Goulding, CEO of Artisan Software commented: "ServiceForce has built a powerful quality driven methodology using Real-time Studio from requirements analysis through to test that will benefit hardware, software, and test engineers alike".

"As providers of COTS tools, our objective with Artisan Real-time Studio is to continue to deliver support for standards like SysML and UML 2.0, yet to retain an open and flexible product that allows users to easily tailor the tool through XML/XMI and OLE customisations for their particular processes".