Software Engineering Tools And Methodologies For Central Heating Control Systems

ITECH7410 Software Methodologies Engineering

Learning Outcomes Assessed

The Heating Company is responsible for the production of heating equipment for both the residential and the non-residential facilities. The proposed plans for the company are to develop new lines of gases and development of improvised central heating control (CHC) systems for both the residential and non-residential facilities. The core proposals for the central heating control systems are to model the functional specification for the proposed solutions.

The proposed functionality of the central heating control systems includes automation and monitoring all the aspects of the heating process. The developed functional specification should factors installation of software components linking the heating unit, gas unit, temperature detector, and software components through centralized developed Wi-Fi Connectivity. The Wi-Fi Protocols must coordinate all the processes and allow two-way communication between the associated hardware components.  Furthermore, the proposed central heating control systems allow communication between the Wi-Fi controllers and System control panel. Control Panel allows real-time communication with the systems using predetermined user controls such as system clock for real-time detection of signal sequence; configure temperature detector, automatic heating control and Sequential turning off/on of the central heating control system.

1. Configuration of the systems clock based on the time frame settings.
2. Enable real-time configuration of the temperature detector to evaluate appropriate instances of temperature measurement (Degrees Celsius, Fahrenheit).
3. Develop control matrix allowing automatic heating ON/OFFto the central heating control systems circuit board.
4. Development of manual heating based on a given selection process and appropriate selected temperature settings.
5. ENTITY RELATIONSHIP DIAGRAM (ERD)

Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD diagram) allows modeling of the relational database structure. Components of the ERD diagram include:

1. Conceptual data models detailing the overview of the specific details.
2. Logical data models illustrating the cardinality of relationships between attributes and data points.
3. Physical data models entails developing blueprint for the relational database structure.

System panel coordinates the whole process of the entire central heating control systems and provides real-time interaction with the systems. The ERD diagram central heating control systems shows all the visual architecture of the database designs and the entities associated with the relational constraints of the heating components, temperature detectors, systems clocks within the preconfigured systems touch pad. Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) models the relationships between the central heating control systems software components and the preconfigured dashboard.

1. Temperature detector entity: temperature id, temperature code, temperature instance, temperature co-efficient, temperature nature (measured in terms of degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit).
2. Time entity: time code, time type, time temperature.
3. Facility entity: unit ID, facility description, facility type (Residential and non-Residential facilities).

Description of the central heating control systems Database Structure

1. Cardinality of the relationships between the temperature and time entities allowing detect the time of the day and the appropriate degrees Celsius.
2. The databases tables (facility, time, temperature detection tables) are referenced by the PRIMARY KEY that uniquely the database tables.
3. The FOREIGN KEY describing the cardinality of relationships all the entities such as facility, time, temperature detection entities within the database tables.
4. Indexing of the database tables to allow faster execution and processing of records within the systems control panels.
5. Binding all the database tables with FOREIGN KEY CONSTRAINTSallowing achieving the cardinality of the relationships such as facilities, time detector and temperature entities.

1. Data and Control Flow Diagram

Control Flow Diagram (CFD’s) describes the control flow sequence of the business process or review specification describing the network of application sequence within the Central heating control systems network sequence. CFD’s explains the detailed logic process of operations within the operations of the time detection sequence. Furthermore, CFD’s allows real-time routing the operations from the initial start to the completion detailing all the argumentative conditions. DFD’s are subdivided into sub-systems (processes) each describing how the data flow within the systems.

Central heating control systems CFD explains the operations of the data flow sequence modeling the operations of the systems clock- setting & configuration of the specific time instances, setting the heating time program and configuration of the time detection process.

1. Process Specification

Analysis of a Large System Development Problem

Process specification methodology used for documenting the web application, analyzing and explaining the decision-making process & used to create output data from the process input data sequence. The objective of the process specification is to achieve flow down control process and develop complete process specification.

Process description allows an individual to obtain precise description of executed tasks & accomplishment processes and validating system design including data dictionary & data flow diagram (DFD’s). Process specification allows processing of the physical outputs & inputs and developing computer aided software engineering (CASE) tools.

Process Specification allows linking the process of data flow diagram (DFD’s) and data dictionary tools. Process specification allows modeling of the data flow diagram (DFD’s) using object-oriented design. Process specification methodology allows graphical tools to perform functional specification allows such as Entity Relationship Models, Data Flow Diagram.

Modeling Process Specification entails developing prerequisite process for executing the central heating control systems.  

1. Initialize the Ducts, Gas Meter Supply, Heating Unit Fan and Heating Unit to assigned value co-efficient.

Ducts = 0;

Gas Meter Supply = 0;

Heating Unit Fan = 0;

Heating Unit =0;

1. Functions evaluate the heating control process that assigns new values to the Ducts, Gas Meter Supply, Heating Unit Fan and Heating Unit.

Ducts = new value ();

Gas Meter Supply = new value ();

Heating Unit Fan = new value ();

Heating Unit = new value ();

1. Function developing the correlation factor existing between the relationship of the room temperature and the appropriate time and day of the week.
2. Case (heating =! NOT OCCURRED):

Switch (Measuring the temperature obtained using System Temperature Detector);

 If (temperature< = established temperature settings);

Looping the switch statement tills temperature surpasses the measurable range.

Process Specification Pseudo code

1. Start the System Control Panel
2. Initialize the temperature to 0

Temperature = 0;

1. Initialize the system clock to the type of time instance reported.
2. Develop set time sequence that uniquely identifies the changes of time settings.
3. User log in to the systems and selects the appropriate time of the heating schedule sequence.
4. Determine the appropriate temperature based on the predetermined time schedule

If (initialized time variables == 12:00:00am and 6:59:00am) {

Set the values of heating temperature == temperature range of 50C to 100C;

} elseif (initialized time variables == between 7:00:00am and 5:59:00pm) {

Set the values of heating temperature == temperature range of 150C to 200C;

} else (initialized time variables == 12:00:00am and 6:59:00am) {

Set the values of heating temperature == temperature range of 150C to 200C;

Update the selected heating temperature according to the user selection criteria.

1. Allow Manual Heating module

Function (Manual Heating) {

User selection = 0;

Temperature below limit = (Predetermined values);

Print (“Select the Temperature settings);

Selected temperature automatically overrides the selected temperature in (g).

1. Systems details function (ON/OFF).

Function (Choose the appropriate heating controls)

Ducts, Gas Supply, Heating Fan and Heating Unit initialize them to Zero;

If (selected heating command option set to OFF) {

  Ducts = closed;

Gas Supply (to the Heating Unit) = stop;

Heating Fun & Unit = UNAVAILABLE;

Updates the System Display;

Reflects updated states of Ducts, Gas Supply, Heating Fan and Heating Unit with appropriate controller messages;

1. Control Specification

Control specification explains how the central heating control systems software components will operate when an instance of a control event or signal sequence is triggered and which iterative process is triggered as a consequence for the occurrence of the triggering effects. The control specification will model the behavioral constraints of the central heating control systems software triggers the operations of event control handling of the temperature detector, time sequence handling and how to create a transition diagram modeling accurate transition period within the database process. Furthermore, iterative process within the systems enables generating appropriate software modeling matrix.

Control specification – Process Activation Tables and State Machine Diagram

Control Specification handles how every events handling process by providing extensive procedures how each processes & events is handled within the Control Flow Diagram/Data Flow Diagram. Central Heating Control Systems control specification allows handling of the different modules & functionalities such as Operation Modules, Data Storage Modules, System Control Panel Modules and System Settings (CHC System Clock, System Temperature Detector and System Display).

CHC State Machine Diagram

Heating Duct Central Heating Systems

(creately.com, 2018).

Gas Meter Supply Central Heating Systems

(creately.com, 2018)

Heating Unit State Diagram Transition

(creately.com, 2018)

Developed Central Heating Control State Machine Diagram

CHC transition diagram explains the modeling between the transition levels of the various object instances. Developing state machine diagram explains how the transition levels of the control system sequence showing real-time behavior of the specific iteration process of the event sequence and how to effectively respond to the corresponding events.

Process Activation Tables (PAT)

PAT’s are decision tables whose condescending outputs activate binary outputs within the CHC architectural designs.

INPUT EVENTS
Temperature Detector	0	1
System Clock	1	0
Activation Process	1	1
Monitor and control CHC platform	1	0
Monitor the temperature and heating threshold sequence	0	1
User Interaction – real-time interaction with the CHC platform	1	0

Data dictionary enables hierarchical graphical modeling of the proposed systems showing processing activities and functions. Data Flow Diagram data dictionary allows developing the data dictionary using top-down approach. Data dictionary allows analyzing the data flows and data stores for the data-oriented systems. Data dictionary allows referencing the metadata. Developing data dictionary allows modeling the specific data objects. Data dictionary allows processing the data flow, elements and data structures. Data dictionary allows describing within the database format, design structures and how the data is used.

1. Eliminating the redundancy of the data dictionary.
2. Validation matrix for the data flow diagram.
3. Developing the logics for Data Flow Diagram (DFD) processes.

The data flow comprises of the composite structures or elements. Data flow enables processing of external entity, process and data flow diagram for the data stores.

CENTRAL HEATING CONTROL SYSTEMS DATA DICTIONARY

1. User ID (Number, PRIMARY KEYS, AUTO INCREMENT) – User Identification code for the central heating control systems.
2. Temperature detection type (Degrees, Number) – selected temperature settings of the heating control systems.
3. Heating Controls (Boolean – ON /OFF) – selected option for which system user selected best choices and determines the state of the controllers (Ducts, Gas Supply, Heating Fan and Heating Unit).
4. Automatic Control Heating ID (NUMBER, SELECTED CONTROL CHOICE) – this command executes real-time back navigation to the appropriate stored heating programs for the central heating control systems.
5. Userselectedsystemdetails (BOOLEAN –OFF & ON) – changes the choice of the heating controls (states of the Ducts, Gas Supply, Heating Fan and Heating Unit)automatically changes depending on the Boolean Type.
6. Time Instance Description (TIMESTAMP) – allowsusers to select their predefined time instances.
7. Updated Temperature (Number, TIMESTAMPS) – Storing the temperature settings based on the appropriate time instance.
8. Temperature request ID (Number AUTO INCREMENT) – temperature settings for automatic heating control sequence.
9. Choice Description (BOOLEAN – ON/OFF) – detailed description of the selected choice of temperature & automatic heating control sequence. Allows the user to select either ON/OFFand it executes real-time operations (states of the Ducts, Gas Supply, Heating Fan and Heating Unit)

References

Creately.com. (2018). Diagram Maker | Online Diagram Software | Creately. Retrieved August 21, 2018, from https://creately.com

Control Specifications (CSPEC). (n.d.). Retrieved August 17, 2018, from https://www.freetutes.com/systemanalysis/sa6-control-specifications.html

THE HATLEY/PIRBHAI MODEL. (n.d.). Retrieved August 17, 2018, from https://read.pudn.com/downloads138/sourcecode/others/592939/comp8100/Hatley-Pirbhai-BW.pdf

Walter, C. (n.d.). Control Software Specification and Design: An Overview. Retrieved August 17, 2018, from https://www.lume.ufrgs.br/bitstream/handle/10183/27688/000102260.pdf?sequence=1

YouTube. (2009, February 17). Concepts of Real Time Systems. Retrieved August 17, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYeqygKAZoM