Using SysML to Model Layered System Interfaces

To produce accurate system architecture descriptions, it is essential to be able to describe interfaces between system elements at different levels of abstraction and from different perspectives at the same time. For example, the connection from system A to system B may be viewed at a high level as independent of the mechanisms that implement that flow (copper wire, free space RF, optical), and it may be useful to explore which of several of these mechanisms might be used. It is also frequently useful to analyze and constrain the problem (interface bindings) at several levels of detail (application protocols, network protocols, physical layer connections) separately, as well as in combination.