Modelling of Context: Designing Mobile Systems from Domain-Dependent Models

Modelling of domain-dependent aspects is a key prerequisite for the design of software for mobile systems. Most mobile systems include a more or less advanced model of selected aspects of the domain in which they are used. This paper discusses the creation of such a model and its relevance for technical design of a mobile software system. Conventional approaches to modelling of context focus either on the application domain or the problem domain. These approaches are presented and their relevance for technical design of software for mobile systems is discussed. The paper also reports from an empirical study where a methodology that combines both of these approaches was introduced and employed for modelling of the domain-dependent aspects that were relevant for the design of a software component in a mobile telephone. The empirical study was conducted in two companies that produce software for mobile telephones. The resulting models of domain-dependent aspects are presented, and the experiences from the modelling process are discussed. It is concluded that a dual perspective based on both of the conventional approaches is relevant for capturing the aspects that are necessary for creating the domain-dependent models that are integrated in a mobile software system.