SEAT, led by Dr. R. F. Gamble, is part of the Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences in the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences at the University of Tulsa. The main areas of SEAT research are described below. The links to the left delineate additional information regarding publications and courses.
SEAT's research illuminates solutions to interoperability problems heterogeneous standalone systems manifest during an integration effort. To achieve these ends, SEAT employs the principles of software architecture, which describes the elements of a system as components, connectors, and their configurations. Software architecture affords our research a level of description far removed from the implementation details of the software and yet allows us to reveal accurate, less expensive, and evolvable solution designs. New research funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the state of Oklahoma has begun on developing security certification modeling techniques for component-based systems. See http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20050405-2410.html.
SEAT introduces interoperability assessment techniques that find solutions to integration problems. In turn, these integration element solutions are reusable, reduce development efforts and increase reliability of heterogeneous component integrations. In addition, SEAT incorporates evolutionary concepts into our interoperability research in order to formulate robust solutions for integration.
SEAT classifies architectural characteristics of components in order to provide a broad base standard for software specification. Architectural characteristics are then used as architectural indicators to support interoperability assessments. In addition, these characteristics provide gauges of evolvability in integration efforts.
Collidescope was developed by SEAT, and codifies our interoperability assessment techniques and solution strategies into one integration tool. Structured by XML and programmed in Java, it assesses user defined applications and components to reveal Problematic Architecture Interactions (PAI) depending on architectural characteristics of participating components and the application. Furthermore, it suggests potential solutions to the PAIs it uncovers. Collidescope now possesses the ability to compose these solutions into a complete integration solution. Download for v.2 now available here.
SEAT has introduced the concept of FIST (a Framework for Interaction in Software development Training) in order to increase productivity and allow undergraduate software engineering students to experience real-world project structures and goals. Coupled with graduate students studying software project management, the two classes form a realistic professional business atmosphere to design and implement non-trivial software systems.