Towards Inconsistency Tolerance by Quantification of Semantic Inconsistencies

Abstract : Due to the increase of their complexity, currently engineered sys- tems cannot be developed by one individual, but are a product of a collaboration between multiple stakeholders who develop the sys- tem from different domain-specific views. Inconsistencies between views, however, hinder collaboration and therefore, must be man- aged. Since the encountered inconsistencies may potentially dis- appear as the natural consequence of a design workflow, tolerating them to a given extent may be desirable and can lead to a more effi- cient collaboration. A key to reason about tolerance is the quantifi- cation of the impact of single inconsistencies on the overall system design. In this paper we present a quantification model for semantic in- consistencies in discrete and continuous systems. We investigate characteristic behavioral patterns of inconsistencies based on this model and identify the links with various forms of tolerance. Fi- nally, we discuss the directions of further expanding the approach required for a comprehensive inconsistency tolerance technique.