12.5 Layering

12.5.1 Description

In addition to the Actor containment hierarchies, Layering provides another method to hierarchically structure a software system. Layering and actor hierarchies with port to port connections can be mixed on every level of granularity.

  1. an ActorClass can define a Service Provision Point (SPP) to publish a specific service, defined by a ProtocolClass
  2. an ActorClass can define a Service Access Point (SAP) if it needs a service, defined by a ProtocolClass
  3. for a given Actor hierarchy, a LayerConnection defines which SAP will be satisfied by (connected to) which SPP

12.5.2 Notation





Description

Graphical Notation Textual Notation



The Layer Connections in this model define which services are provided by the ServiceLayer (digitalIO and timer)

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The implementation of the services (SPPs) can be delegated to sub actors. In this case the actor ServiceLayer relays (delegates) the implementation services digitalIO and timer to sub actors

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Every Actor inside the ApplicationLayer that contains an SAP with the same Protocol as timer or digitalIO will be connected to the specified SPP

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_ServiceLayer_ (_digitalIO_ and _timer_)</td> actor _ServiceLayer_ relays (delegates) the implementation services _digitalIO_ and _timer_ to sub actors</td> _timer_ or _digitalIO_ will be connected to the specified SPP</td>