Early Work on the Brain Patch, a Reflective Service for System of Systems Integration

In previous work we've shown that reflection supports the integration of components and of self-optimization within a complex system. In this paper, we discuss some early work on how some of these capabilities could support a similar integration and conflict resolution among the members of a system of systems (SoS). We start with a brief overview of the Wrappings approach to reflection, the notion of a web of reflection, and the CARS test bed where we are developing our concepts. We then introduce some early work on a new reflective service, the Brain Patch which helps to integrate a system into a System of Systems (SoS) by being both a domain specific expert on the reason for the formation of the SoS and its goals, situation, operating rules, etc. And by also continually observing and building a model of the system assigned to it.