NOV-1 High-Level Operational Concept Description
NOV-1 is used to depict the "big picture" of the operational context of the architecture. It describes capability and highlights the main operational nodes (see NOV-2 definition) and interesting or unique aspects of operations. It provides a description of the interactions between the subject architecture and its environment, and between the architecture and external systems. A textual description accompanying the graphic is crucial. Graphics alone are not sufficient for capturing the necessary architecture data.
This subview addresses people wanting to have a general understanding of the architecture but who have no experience in modeling or architecture methods. The aim is therefore to be able to transfer the main purpose of the architecture without the need for a formal description. This is why this first level of architecture explanation uses external documents and notes and not formal models.
Another source of general information is the repository items cited in the texts of the architecture. Dropping any item in an object text automatically creates a link between the referencing object and the cited item. The list of all cited items can then be used as starting points to a deeper study of the architecture. This list only contains the cited objects and users cannot directly insert new items. It is therefore read-only.
The NOV-1 Report Parameters
The NOV-1 report template is supplied with one parameter: the architecture to be analyzed. There are no additional parameters.
The NOV-1 High-Level Operational Concept Graphic Chapter
This chapter gives access to all the general documentation regarding the architecture.
First, the chapter shows the "High-Level Operational Graphic" diagram, which gives a general understanding of the architecture.
The diagram is followed by a list of all notes linked to the architecture, then a table with the external references linked to the architecture. Depending on the report format the external references are displayed as a hyperlink (HTML) or a name with the complete address of the external document.
When external references are added to the "High-Level Graphic" diagram (Library diagram in HOPEX terminology), they are not automatically linked to the architecture. This is so because in HOPEX external references can be added to any diagram, diagrams which are not necessarily linked to architectures. To ensure that external references are linked to an architecture, this link must be made from the Properties dialog box, General tab, References sub-tab of the architecture in the NAF navigator window. The external references then appear under the architecture in the NAF navigation window.A table of the cited items is also inserted in the chapter with their name, type and comment.
The figure below shows an example of a Library diagram.
Example of an NOV-1 Library Diagram