Requirements model comparative analysis method for effort estimation in customizing a network monitoring and control system

A computer program product, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising:
• computer readable program code configured to perform the steps of:
• receiving an input, wherein the input includes a first model of data flows between a proposed Network Monitoring and Control (NMC) unit and devices connected to the proposed NMC unit, wherein the first model is based on a Request for Proposal (RFP) and the data flows are defined by data types and primitives conforming to a modeling formalism;
• and
• comparing the first model with a second model, wherein the second model is a model of data flows between a previously developed NMC unit and devices connected to the previously developed NMC unit, wherein the second model is based on a prior RFP and the data flows are defined by data types and primitives conforming to the modeling formalism, wherein the comparison identifies differences between the data flows of the first and second models,
• wherein the devices include actuators, the data types of the modeling formalism include status and control, and the data flow between an actuator and the NMC unit include a control to be performed by that actuator,
• wherein the comparison comprises comparing the devices of the first model with the devices of the second model and identifying overlapping devices between the first and second models,
• wherein in response to identifying overlapping actuators, the controls of the overlapping actuators are compared to each other to find actuator controls of the first model that are different from actuator controls of the second model.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, at a processing device, an input, wherein the input includes a first model of data flows between a proposed Network Monitoring and Control (NMC) unit and devices connected to the proposed NMC unit, wherein the first model is based on a Request for Proposal (RFP) and the data flows are defined by data types and primitives conforming to a modeling formalism;
• and
• comparing, by using the processing device, the first model with a second model, wherein the second model is a model of data flows between a previously developed NMC unit and devices connected to the previously developed NMC unit, wherein the second model is based on a prior RFP and the data flows are defined by data types and primitives conforming to the modeling formalism, wherein the comparison identifies differences between the data flows of the first and second models,
• wherein the devices include equipment, the data types of the modeling formalism include status and control, the data flow between an equipment and the NMC unit includes a status of that equipment and a control to be performed by that equipment.
• wherein the comparison comprises comparing the devices of the first model with the devices of the second model and identifying overlapping devices between the first and second models,
• wherein in response to identifying overlapping equipment, the statuses of the overlapping equipment are compared to each other to find equipment statuses of the first model that are different from equipment statuses of the second model and the controls of the overlapping equipment are compared to each other to find equipment controls of the first model that are different from equipment controls of the second model.