Little JIL

Automated FMEA and Little JIL Process Definition Language... 

In this method, automated FMEA is done with the help of process modeling in sufficient detail using Little-JIL process definition language (see Appendix IV). Little-JIL process definition is a hierarchy of steps, representing a single unit of work. Every step specifies all artifacts and resources it uses in its interface. A step without any substeps is called a leaf step. Each nonleaf step has a sequencing badge that indicates the execution order of its substeps. Artifacts are objects passed between different steps via four parameter types, IN, OUT, IN/OUT, and Locals parameter. In Little-JIL, resources are special kinds of artifacts for which there is contention for access [11]. 

Identify failure modes First, appropriate failure modes are identified by Little-JIL process definitions. At each step, the basic elements of a Little-JIL process definition have an interface, which is to specify the artifacts it uses as parameters along with each type. Thus the failure modes related to artifacts for each step are created. 

Phase 1. Here it is necessary to construct the artifact flow graph (AFG) from the Little-JIL process. The AFG can be easily constructed by traversing the process tree with an algorithm. The AFG is used... 

Phase 2. Derive FMEA information using the AFG After generating the AFG for a Little-JIL process definition, the effects for each failure mode can be identified. It is straightforward to determine incrementally the artifacts to watch at the steps that could be contaminated by traversing the AFG. Therefore the fault of these artifacts is defined as the effects of the given failure mode. 

For Little-JIL process definition language refer to Appendix IV. 

There are a few numbers of such process definition languages such as business process modeling notation (BPMN) or extensible markup language (XML). Little JIL is one of the most promising process definition languages, which shall be discussed in this part of the discussion. 

Little JIL is a process definition language to coordinate the activities of multiple people and software tools operating in a distributed environment and sharing data and resources (all those discussed previously). It is different ftom usual programming language normally used for computations. Various aspects of Little JIL language shall include mainly ... 

Little JIL checker Used for syntax and semantic checking. 

From the preceding discussions, it is clear that any process definition language has some requirements to be fulfilled so that the same can be used as process definition language. Little JIL is one of such process definition language which is powerful. So, in this part, language shall be looked into with a little depth for proper understanding of the same. 

As discussed above, there are a few characteristics a process definition language when used in computer needs to meet. These are rigorous, detailed, broad semantic, and clear understanding. These characteristics are met in the following ways by Little JIL ... 

Rigorous Little JIL s semantics are defined in terms of finite state machines [3]. 

Detailed Little JIL uses hierarchical decomposition as the primary vehicle for supporting the iterative, incremental elaboration of details [3]. 

Semantically broad A Little JIL process definition consists of three components, viz. artifact (see Fig. APIV/2.0.3-1), resource, and coordination structure. 

Little JIL has been developed in a factored approach that allows the core coordination language to be simpler and easier to understand, develop, and use. This kind of approach also allows a few aspects of process definition to be developed and evolved in independent ways. The design of Little JIL coordination features was guided by following primary principles ... 

Flexibility Little JIL is designed to give process programmers the power to choose what level of flexibility to give to the process s agents [4]. This is important for the cases where more than one sequencing is acceptable, or when a different set of steps may be acceptable. 

As stated earlier. Little JIL language has hierarchical structure and is a tree of step types, each of which can be multiply instantiated at runtime. Each leaf represents the smallest specified units of work and the tree s structure represents the way in which this work will he coordinated. As processes execute, steps go through several states. Typically, a step can he posted only when it is assigned to an agent who starts the step. Any of these said step is either successfully completed or may he terminated due to an exception. 

Typical Little JIL language representation has been shown in Fig. APIV/2.1.T1. As shown in the figure, there are a number of badges that make up a step, as well one step s possible connections to other steps,... 

From the previous discussions it is clear that Little JIL as a coordination language rests on four major components. The concept of Little JIL language has been as shown schematically in Fig. APIV/2.1.2-1. Major components are ... 

Figure courtesy of Professor LJ. Osterwdl—University of Massachusetts. L.J. Osterweif The Little-JIL Process Definition Language, Laboratory for Advanced SE Research University of Massachusetts, USA, March 2008. 

There are a few important issues related to Little JIL process definition, which have been enumerated as follows ... 

As the name suggests, exceptions and handlers are used to indicate and fix exceptional conditions or errors during program execution and provide a degree of reaction control and management to handle the condition. The exception mechanisms in Little JIL are designed to be simple yet expressive. It is based on the use of steps to define the scope of exceptions and handlers. Exceptions are passed up the step decomposition tree (call stack) until a matching handler is found [1]. 

Parameters are basically information passed from one step to the other, necessary for execution of the step to get step execution results. The parameters types, such as type definition, equality, and others, are not related to coordination. These are kept out of Little JIL. 

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