Select an application with which you are familiar. Answer each
of the questions posed for control and data in Section 10.3.3.
Control. How is control managed within the
architecture? Does a distinct control hierarchy exist, and if so,
what is the role of components within this control hierarchy? How
do components transfer control within the system? How is control
shared among components? What is the control topology (i.e., the
geometric form that the control takes)? Is control
synchronized,
or do components operate asynchronously?
Data. How are data communicated between
components? Is the flow of data continuous, or are data objects
passed to the system sporadically? What is the mode of data
transfer (i.e., are data passed from one component to another or
are data available globally to be shared among system components)?
Do data components (e.g., a blackboard or repository) exist, and if
so, what is their role? How do functional components interact with
data components? Are data components passive or active (i.e., does
the data component actively interact with other components in the
system)? How do data and control interact within the system?