Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010

Measuring Interoparability:From Theory to Practice

Dr. Ulrich Sandl,Head of Division

Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology

Regional ITU Consultation on Conformance Assessment and

Interoperability for the Africa region (Nairobi, Kenya, 30-31 July 2010 )

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The political dimension of interoperability

Interoperability means (not only) Functional capability

But also Competition

Lower prices Innovation

Independence Transparency and Openness (security)

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The political framework(s) in Germany and the EU

On European level The Digital Agenda The European Interoperability Framework

In Germany The ICT Strategy (Germany 2015) SAGA (Standards and Architectures fo e-government)

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The carrot and the stick

strategy

The carrot R&D Public Procurement

The stick Competition law(s) Regulation

And...

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The practice: testing wether it works

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The challenges for interoperability testing

The dynamic technological environment The different application areas The convergence of new technologies Downwards interoperability The costs...

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The areas of needs from public procurement in Germany (1)

Application Area Yes, there are problems

Application software 73,5System software 72,1IT security 53,6Plug in card 25,6Network interfaces 28,6Micro cpontroller 25,8Storage media 22,5Chipset (CPU) 21,9

IW, 2009Institut für Wirtschaft, 2009

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The areas of needs from public procurement in Germany (2)

High• Guidelines for the implementation of standards• Consistent interpretation of standards• Acceptance testing incl. interoperability

confirmation

Low• Conformance testing

addressed with early and continuous consideration of interoperability aspects in public procurement

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How to achieve interoperability – in general

Standards are the basis for interoperability• Gaps of interpretation anticipate interoperability• BUT: standard conformity means not (necessarily)

interoperability

Profiling is the framework for the use of a standard

• Reduction of interpretation gaps

Testing methods and guidelines for the documented evidence of interoperability

• Closing of interpretation gaps

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The cost benefit relationship

interoperability

time and effort

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Precondition of a testing body

Vendor neutrality

Uses consistent and mature (acknowledged) testing methods

Is incorporated in a mutual recognition network

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How to achieve interoperability - in public procurement

Enable public procurers to integrate „interoperability“ as criteria in public procurement processes

establish testlabs as a test environment to prove interoperability and to develop and demonstrate a transparent, standardized and robust valuation methodology

develop typical scenarios with the objective of analyzing, testing, verifying and demonstrating interoperability of selected systems in specific areas of application

Set up an information and communication portal to deliver common and specific information to stakeholders and foster the building of an interoperability-community and assure equal access to information

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Five basic steps of an interoperability methodology

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Test process

Scenario-based testing Identification of typical and relevant requirements and scenarios (Semi-)Automated test execution

Specification-based testing Extension of scenario-based tests with conformance-oriented tests Objective test specifications (TTCN-3) Fully automated test execution

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Project aims

• Proof and publication of interoperability of between products, systems and solutions

Developing actions to support the enhancement of interoperability, with a special focus on public procurement

Developing and upgrading of testbeds Specifying and profiling of existing standards Developing certifiable test processes and –solutions Facilitation of an acknowledged proof

• Make products, systems and solutions more transparent Providing best-practice examples, experiences, instructions and publications

• Reduction of the lack of information Setting up a modern communication- and information platform Promoting the dialogue with interoperability-community

• And…

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International cooperation

Mutual recognitionInteroperability testing eventsKnow how transfers

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Future Demands

Cloud Computing SOA Next Generation Networks – e.g. IPv6 ePassport, German eIdentity card transborder cooperation – e.g. cross-

border services Internet of things – e.g. smart grid ...

Nairobi, Kenya, 30 – 31 July 2010

Thank you for your attention