Cybersecure Modular Open Architechture Software Systems for Stimulating Innovtion and Achieving Better Buying Power

Abstract

Project Abstract This research will investigate software innovation opportunities for the acquisition of cybersecure modular open architecture software systems that accommodate Web-based, mobile, or low-cost microelectronic devices. Systems of these kinds must combine best-of- breed software components subject to agile, adaptive requirements of multiple parties, while conforming to reusable software products lines. This research will investigate a new approach to address Better Buying Power (BBP) challenges that can stimulate innovation in the acquisition, production and evolution of cybersecure modular OA software systems. We seek to make this a simpler, more transparent, and more tractable process. Our recent research demonstrates how complex OA systems can be designed, built, and deployed with alternative components and connectors resulting in functionally similar system versions, to satisfy overall system capability requirements as well as individual OA system component intellectual property (IP) and cybersecurity requirements. These requirements are surfacing new challenges for achieving BBP that can decrease (or increase) software acquisition costs. Our next step proposed here is to investigate the use of smart contracts and associated technologies (e.g., cryptocurrency, domain-specific blockchain transaction languages and computational tools) for specifying shared agreements between multiple parties to acquisition efforts. We believe smart contracts can be computationally enacted during the design, integration, release, deployment, and evolution of cybersecure, modular open architecture software systems in ways that can model, track and analyze the associated contractual obligations and customer rights that drive costs and risks. Smart contracts incorporate computational specifications (i.e., computer programming script code) that enable formal and precise agreements between parties that can entail costing constraints, and production or cybersecurity requirements, that are associated with articulated OA system procurement obligations and rights. The associated technologies for smart contracts are emerging capabilities that enable computational protocols for tracking elemental transactions between multiple parties to a shared contractual agreement. Such agreements can arise, for example, when different program offices, government agencies, commercial firms, and non- profit enterprises decide to share acquisition costs and risks in order to more rapidly assemble, produce, deliver, or evolve innovative cybersecure modular OA software systems.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Sep 20, 2016
Source ID
N002441610053

Entities

People

  • Walter Scacchi

Organizations

  • United States Navy
  • University of California, Irvine

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Computer science
  • Engineering

Readers

  • Cybersecurity.
  • Database Systems and Applications
  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.

Technology Areas

  • Cyber
  • Microelectronics