Philadelphia University
Lecturer: Dr. Moayad A. Fahdil
Coordinator: Dr. Moayad A. Fahdil
Internal Examiner: Dr. Samer Hana
Faculty of Information Technology
Software Engineering Department
Examination Paper
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Software Architecture (721320)
Final Exam
1st Semester - 2015/2016
Date: 3/2/2016
Section: 1
Time: 120 Minutes
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Information for Candidates
1. This examination paper contains 4 questions totaling 40 marks.
2. The marks for parts of questions are shown in square brackets:
Advice to Candidates
1. You should attempt ALL questions and write your answers clearly.
2. You are not allowed to split answers of one question and mix up sections of different questions.
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I. Basic Notions
Objectives: The aim of the questions in this part is to evaluate your required minimal knowledge and
understanding skills in the basics of Software Architecture.
Question 1 (14 marks)
1. What are the fundamental understandings of software architecture?(2 marks)
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Architecture is a set of principal design decisions about a software system
Three fundamental understandings of software architecture
1. Every application has an architecture
2. Every application has at least one architect
3. Architecture is not a phase of development
2- Fill in the blanks using a suitable answer (2 marks)
(Publish subscribe, Layered, event-based, rule-based, interpreter, peer-to-peer)
1234-
Operating systems architecture could be represented best using Layered .
YouTube architecture could be represented using Publish subscribe or event-based style.
rule-based style is suited for AI applications.
Client-server architecture is a special kind of Layered.
3- What are the Non-Functional Properties which related to architectural choices? (2 marks)
 NFPs are the result of architectural choices
 NFP questions are raised as the result of architectural choices
 Specification of NFP might require an architectural framework to even enable their
statement
 An architectural framework will be required for assessment of whether the properties
are achievable
4- What are the types of connectors for Composite Connectors (Grid connectors and Peer-to-peer
connectors)? (2 marks)
Grid connectors:
 Procedure call
 Data access
 Stream
 Distributor
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Peer-to-peer connectors:
 Arbitrator
 Data access
 Stream
 Distributor
5-What are the properties of DSSA? (2 marks)
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u
Capturing and characterizing the best solutions and best practices from past projects
within a domain
Production of new applications can focus on the points of novel variation
Reuse applicable parts of the architecture and implementation
Applicable for product lines
Recall the Philips Koala example discussed in the previous lecture
6-Consider the following diagram: (2 marks)
a. Specify the software architectural pattern. Multiple Client/Server
b. What are the properties of the specified pattern?
7. for the following connectors’ diagrams: (1 marks)
“Specify the type (EVENT) and service (FACILITATION) of them.”
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8. For the following diagram what is the architectural pattern. (1 marks): N-Tier Architecture
II. Familiar Problems Solving
Objectives: This part aims to evaluate that you have some basic knowledge of the key aspects of the lecture
material and can attempt to solve familiar problems.
Question 2 (8 marks)
Consider the Course Registration Problem Statement:
The registration process works as follows: Students send an application form containing their personal
details and their desired course The University checks that the course is available and that the student
has necessary academic qualifications. If the course is available the student is enrolled in the course,
and the university confirms the enrolment by sending a confirmation letter to the student. If the course
is unavailable the student receives a rejection letter.
1- Choose the suitable software architecture style, justify your choice.
2- What are the ccomponents of the architecture?
3- Specify the connectors and its types.
4- Draw Software Architecture Style.
Question 3
(10 marks – 2.5 Marks for each)
A- For the following software architecture model determine (Components, Connectors, and Topology)
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 Components: Objects (software components exposing services through well-defined provided
interfaces)
 Connector: (Remote) Method invocation
 Topology: General graph of objects from callers to callees.
B- Consider the following diagram:
1- Specify the software architectural style. (Batch Sequential)
2- What are the properties of the specified style?
a. Separate programs are executed in order; data is passed as an aggregate from one
program to the next.
b. Connectors: “The human hand” carrying tapes between the programs, a.k.a. “sneakernet ”
c. Data Elements: Explicit, aggregate elements passed from one component to the next
upon completion of the producing program’s execution.
C- For the following diagram determine its software architecture style and its advantages(C2)
D- Determine the software architecture for the following diagrams, Justify your answer.
MVC
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:
Unfamiliar Problems Solving
Objective: This part aims to evaluate that you have some basic knowledge of the key aspects of the lecture
material and can attempt to solve unfamiliar problems.
Question 4 (8 marks)
The following concerns a simplified generate alarm use case in Emergency Monitoring system:
Use Object-Oriented Software Architecture Style specifies:
a) Components (objects).
b) Connectors (messages and method invocations).
c) Draw Software Architecture Style through specifying:
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