Challenges in the Application of Feature Modelling in Fixed Line Telecommunications

Abstract

The global telephone system is a complex transmission network, the features of which are defined to a very high level by ITU-T standards. It is therefore a prime candidate at which to target the application of software product line techniques, and feature modelling in particular, in order to handle the inherent commonality of protocols and variability in equipment functionality. This paper reports on an experimental feature modelling notation and illustrates it with application to the modelling of embedded software for the core network elements. We look at three of the fundamental challenges facing the adoption of feature modelling in the field and explain how we have strived to address these within our tools set