Qualitative and Quantitative Reliability Assessment

Qualitative and Quantitative

Reliabilitv I

Assessment KARAMA KANOUN,MOHAMEDK A ~ V I C Hand E , JEAN~CLAUDE LAPR~E French National Organization for Scientific Research

7i-aditio~zalsystem ~~eliahility effirt.r have failed tofi,cis on .roft.ln~pe ~eliability.To remedy this, the astho9:sp~~opose a method that z1se.s des~~riptzve ~szalyses, trend analyxex, and reliability models to control testing actiuities, evahate sofrzare relinbility, and plan maintenance.

IEEE SOFTWARE

D

uring the development of a software system, the supplier must efficiently monitor the development activities; comply with the delivery schedule; predict when a specified level of reliability will be reached, or at least check how well the software will satisfy the customer's requirements; and reduce maintenance efforts. O n the other hand, the customer needs a reliable product, delivered on time and at the lowest price. Our method helps reach these goals. It is based on the analysis and evaluation of software reliability by processing failure data collected on a software product during its development and operation. Traditionally, system reliability efforts have not focused on software reliability. We believe that failure prediction can be improved if software reliability modeling is integrated into an overall approach. T h e method we propose is based on the combined use of descriptive analyses, trend analyses, and reliability models to control testing activities, evaluate software reliability, and plan maintenance. 0740-7459/97/$10.00 0 1997 IEEE

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