Systems Interoperability Types: A Tertiary Study

Author(s)

Pitangueira Maciel, Rita Suzana ; Dias Valle, Pedro Henrique ; Santos, Kecia Souza ; Nakagawa, Elisa Yumi

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ACM COMPUTING SURVEYS; v. 56, n. 10, p. 37-pg., 2024-10-01.

Abstract

Interoperability has been a focus of attention over at least four decades, with the emergence of several interoperability types (or levels), diverse models, frameworks, and solutions, also as a result of a continuous effort from different domains. The current heterogeneity in technologies such as blockchain, IoT and new application domains such as Industry 4.0 brings not only new interaction possibilities but also challenges for interoperability. Moreover, confusion and ambiguity in the current understanding of interoperability types exist, hampering stakeholders' communication and decision-making. This work presents an updated panorama of software-intensive systems interoperability with particular attention to its types. For this, we conducted a tertiary study that scrutinized 37 secondary studies published from 2012 to 2023, from which we found 36 interoperability types associated with 117 different definitions, besides 13 interoperability models and six frameworks in various domains. This panorama reveals that the concern with interoperability has migrated from technical to social-technical issues going beyond the software systems' boundary and still requiring solving many open issues. We also address the urgent actions and also potential research opportunities to leverage interoperability as a multidisciplinary research field to achieve low-coupled, cost-effective, and interoperable systems. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 23/00488-5 - SPIRA-BM: biomarkers for respiratory conditions on mobile devices using audio analysis with artificial intelligence
• Grantee: Marcelo Finger
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/03276-6 - A Conceptual and Technological Framework for Full Interoperability
• Grantee: Elisa Yumi Nakagawa
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - Brazil
• FAPESP's process: 15/24144-7 - Technologies and solutions for enabling the cloud of things paradigm
• Grantee: José Neuman de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants