Modeling reuse across the software life cycle

This article reports strong correlations between reuse levels of software products across the life cycle and presents models of reuse levels across the life cycle. These models can be used to estimate reuse levels of one life cycle object given reuse levels of others, or to predict reuse levels of later life cycle objects given reuse levels of earlier ones. The models have been developed from survey data collected from 113 respondents from 29 organizations about their own and their organizations' levels of reuse of life cycle objects. Usage scenarios for the models are presented, as are methods for customizing and improving the models.     

Quality improvement using a software reuse failure modes model

The paper presents a failure modes model of parts-based software reuse, and shows how this model can be used to evaluate and improve software reuse processes. The model and the technique are illustrated using survey data about software reuse gathered from 113 people from 29 organizations     

Extracting motion data from video using optical flow with physically-based constraints

Motion analysis of video data is a powerful tool for studying dynamic behavior and determining sources of failures. In the case of failure analysis, the available video may be of poor quality, such as from surveillance cameras. It is also likely to have been taken from a bad angle, with poor lighting, and occlusions may be present. To address such cases, this paper presents an optical flow-based tracking algorithm incorporating physically-based constraints to extract motion data from video. The technique can accurately track a significant number of data points with a high degree of automation and efficiency. Many traditional methods of video data extraction from poor-quality video have proven tedious and time-consuming due to extensive user-input requirements. With this in mind, the proposed optical flow-based algorithm functions with a minimal degree of user involvement. Points identified at the outset of a video sequence, and within a small subset of frames spaced throughout, can be automatically tracked even when they become occluded or undergo translational, rotational, or deformational motion. The proposed algorithm improves upon previous optical flow-based tracking algorithms by providing greater flexibility and robustness. Example results are presented that show the method tracking machines with flexible components, Segway personal transporters, and athletes pole vaulting.     

Representing reusable software

Many methods for representing software components for reuse have been proposed. These include traditional library and information science methods, knowledge-based methods, and hypertext. The paper surveys and categorizes these methods, and discusses systems in which they have been used. A definition and conceptual framework of software reuse representations is proposed that relates these methods to each other and to the software life-cycle.     

A new method for registration-based medical image interpolation

A new technique is presented for interpolating between grey-scale images in a medical data set. Registration between neighboring slices is achieved with a modified control grid interpolation algorithm that selectively accepts displacement field updates in a manner optimized for performance. A cubic interpolator is then applied to pixel intensities correlated by the displacement fields. Special considerations are made for efficiency, interpolation quality, and compression in the implementation of the algorithm. Experimental results show that the new method achieves good quality, while offering dramatic improvement in efficiency relative to the best competing method.     

An empirical study of representation methods for reusable softwarecomponents

An empirical study of methods for representing reusable software components is described. Thirty-five subjects searched for reusable components in a database of UNIX tools using four different representation methods: attribute-value, enumerated, faceted, and keyword. The study used Proteus, a reuse library system that supports multiple representation methods. Searching effectiveness was measured with recall, precision, and overlap. Search time for the four methods was also compared. Subjects rated the methods in terms of preference and helpfulness in understanding components. Some principles for constructing reuse libraries. Based on the results of this study, are discussed     

Success factors of systematic reuse

Systematic software reuse is a paradigm shift in software engineering from building single systems to building families of related systems. The goal of software reuse research is to discover systematic procedures for engineering new systems from existing assets. Implementing systematic reuse is risky. Not doing it is also risky. Trying systematic reuse unsuccessfully can cost precious time and resources and may make management sceptical of trying it again. But if your competitors do it successfully and you do not, you may lose market share and possibly an entire market. There is no cookbook solution-each organization must analyze its own needs, implement reuse measurements, define the key benefits it expects, identify and remove impediments, and manage risk. Reliable data on how much this costs and the benefits an organization will derive are insufficient. The article addresses issues from management, measurement, law, economics, libraries, and the design of reusable software     

DARE: Domain analysis and reuse environment

DARE (Domain Analysis and Reuse Environment) is a CASE tool that supports domain analysis – the activity of identifying and documenting the commonalities and variabilities in related software systems. DARE supports the capture of domain information from experts, documents, and code in a domain. Captured domain information is stored in a domain book that will typically contain a generic architecture for the domain and domain-;specific reusable components.