System of systems

Engineering

Biology

Identification (biology)

Principal (computer security)

Taxonomy (biology)

Computer security

Systems engineering

Operating system

Systems design

Economics

Set (abstract data type)

Computer science

Botany

Visual arts

Systems architecture

Architecture

Phrase

Systems theory

Structuring

Artificial intelligence

Software engineering

Programming language

Finance

Heuristics

Systems Engineering

While the phrase “system-of-systems” is commonly seen, there is less agreement on what they are, how they may be distinguished from “conventional” systems, or how their development differs from other systems. This paper proposes a definition, a limited taxonomy, and a basic set of architecting principles to assist in their design. As it turns out, the term system-of-systems is infelicitous for the taxonomic grouping. The grouping might be better termed “collaborative systems.” The paper also discusses the value of recognizing the classification in system design, and some of the problems induced by misclassification. One consequence of the classification is the identification of principal structuring heuristics for system-of-systems. Another is an understanding that, in most cases, the architecture of a system-of-systems is communications. The architecture is nonphysical, it is the set of standards that allow meaningful communication among the components. This is illustrated through existing and proposed systems. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Syst Eng 1: 267–284, 1998

Architecting principles for systems-of-systems