A constraint-based model of coordination in concurrent design projects

Communication and coordination play an important role in achieving concurrency in the design of large complex artifacts. It is also widely accepted that design is constraint oriented involving the recognition, formulation and satisfaction of constraints. In this paper we have described how constraints can be used to achieve communication and coordination in large concurrent design projects. The system that we are implementing is oriented towards (but is not limited to) engineering domain, and supports multiple perspectives, notification mechanisms, a system management agent and design knowledge management.