Beginners Guide to Model-Based Systems Engineering

12/18/2018

Physical and Internal Block Diagrams (PBDs and IBDs)

• Specify logical (Interface) or physical (Link) connectivity of system / component • Serves as the system context diagram at the highest level • Often includes conceptual component graphics at higher levels to enhance communication • Cartoon or “architoon” • Classically shown as boxes and lines at lower levels • “System schematic”

ifbdPhysicalContext

Certification Authority

Collectors

Customer-Command Center Interface

Customer-Workstation Interface

Customers

Collectors Interface

CertificationAuthority Interface

Customers Interface

CommandCenter

Workstation

GeospatialLibrary

131

Key Semantics of Physical and Interface Block Diagrams

• Components

ifbdPhysicalContext

• Number and name standard • Connections (logic Interfaces or physical Links) • Represented as lines connecting nodes • Labeled with name • Optionally display items carried (delimited by braces) for additional detail • External Systems • Often shown as full nodes and specially tagged (background color / font color)

Certification Authority

Collectors

Customer-Command Center Interface

Customer-Workstation Interface

Customers

Collectors Interface

CertificationAuthority Interface

Customers Interface

CommandCenter

Workstation

GeospatialLibrary

132

66