Context Model in Software Engineering

We will understand the context model in software engineering in this article. It is one of the types of system models in software engineering. Let us know about the system model first.

System Model

The graphical representation of the system which the software developer wants to develop is called a system model. The system is developed based on user requirements and system requirements. The system models describe the system in detail using graphical notation. There are four types of system models: context model, interaction structural model, behavioural model, and structural model.

Context Model

The external perspective model represents how the system that must be built will interact with other systems within its environment. It shows the boundaries of a system that includes various automated systems in an environment. The requirements of employees and stakeholders are discussed while creating the context model to decide the system's functionality that needs to be developed. It shows the relationships between the system to be created and other systems.

It is used to explain developers, stakeholders, or customers. Some factors need to be kept in mind while creating the context model. The factors can be the overall cost of the system, the time required to analyze the system, etc.

System Boundaries

It describes the inside and outside of the system. It is important to find what is inside and outside of the environment. The position of the system boundary plays a vital role that affects the system's requirements.

Examples of the Context Model

Let us see some examples of the context model to comprehend it properly.

1. Example of the Bank ATM System:

The context model diagram has the main system in the middle called the "Bank ATM System". The main system is connected to actors in an environment. The actors can be users and other systems. The other systems are the Local Branch Accounting System, Account Database, User Database, Hardware/ Software Maintenance Staff, Security System, and Cash Counter Staff.

The Bank ATM System is used to dispense cash and permit to make other banking transactions. The Local Branch Accounting System contains the accounts of the local branch users. The Bank ATM System interacts with the Local Branch Accounting System to get the user account details. The Account Database allows user to access their information. The Hardware/ Software Maintenance Staff tests and maintains the ATM. The Security System is used to protect the ATM from hackers. The Cash Counter Staff is used to count the cash.

2. Example of the Order Processing System:

The context model diagram has the main system in the middle called the "Order Processing System". The main system is connected to other systems, which are Customer Channels, Delivery Dispatch System, Inventory Management System, and Payment Processing System.

The "Order Processing System" is used to manage the orders easily. First, the Order Processing System will interact with customer channels, and the order may come from different channels. The data is also exchanged between the main system and other systems. The order is received from the customer channels, so the data exchange between the Order Processing System and Customer Channels is "order details and customer info".

The Payment Processing System is used to get the payment from the system. The data discussed between the Order and Payment Processing System is "order amount and payment status". The main system will confirm the order and pass the information to the Inventory Management System because every order requires certain ingredients. The data discussed between the Order Processing System and Inventory Management System is "order detail and low inventory alerts". If enough ingredients are not in the inventory, the inventory management system will alert the main system. When the order is prepared, it must be delivered with the help of the Delivery Dispatch System that manages the trucks and drivers required. The data discussed between the Order Processing System and Delivery Dispatch System is "order details and delivery status".

3. Example of the Inventory Control System:

The context model graph has the main system in the centre called "Inventory Control System". The primary system is linked to varied systems in an environment. The systems are Inventory Database, Accounting System, Maintenance System, Monitoring System, Report Generation System, and Account Database.

The Inventory Control System is the system that handles the inventory, such as tracking the goods, cost, etc. The Inventory Database holds the inventory data like the necessity of goods, number of goods, cost, and more.

The Accounting System holds the inventory records, transactions, money paid for buying goods to fill the inventory, etc. The Monitoring System is the system that monitors the commodities like stock availability, goods usage patterns of customers, etc.

The Maintenance System is the system that is utilized to maintain the commodities, repair the inventory if required, and more. The Report Generation System generates inventory-related reports regarding purchased goods, sold goods, etc. The Account Database is used to store the accounting information.

The main system is linked to sub-systems to communicate with each other and assist the main system to work properly.

4. Example of the Baby Daycare System:

The context model graph has the main system in the centre, the "Baby Daycare System". The main system is attached to users and other systems. The users are Parents, Children, Staff and Landlord. The Licensing Authority System, Heath Agency, and Catering System are the systems.

The Baby Daycare System assists in taking care of the baby. The parents talk with the baby daycare system to admit the children in the daycare so the parents will pay the fees to the daycare for getting the services. The baby daycare system interacts with children and takes care of them. The baby daycare system needs a location to keep the children so that the system will interact with the landlord, the landlord will provide premises, and the daycare will pay the rent.

The baby daycare system will communicate with the catering system to provide the food to the children so that the daycare will order the food from the catering system. The baby daycare system should have the right to provide services so that it will communicate with the licensing authority. The daycare will provide the documents, and the licensing authority will provide the license. The staff provides expertise to do the job and get the payment from the daycare. The baby daycare system will interact with the health agency to provide health facilities to the children because their health is very important.

Conclusion

You have understood the context model in software engineering. The context model is an external perspective model that shows the interaction between the main system and other systems with the help of graphical notation.