Contain a representation of the logical structure of a system architecture, consisting of components (can be described and decomposed) and elements (cannot be described or decomposed). Both can be shown as rectangular, triangular and circular symbols, to follow an optional project-specific convention.
Components and elements are connected by bidirectional data connections, representing system buses or point-to-point connections. Two forms of connection are provided, data and signal (primarily for the conveyance of control signals). For low volume connections (conveying few pieces of data and/or a limited number of data packets), the data link or signal link symbols are provided, shown as thin lines. For connections conveying large and/or complex data, the data channel and signal channel symbols are provided, shown as thick lines.
The intention in the AID is that these connections represent logical, not physical, links. They represent a logical grouping of the data that is conveyed between physical components in the architecture. They do not represent a physical connection between these components. The Physical Architecture Diagram (PAD) is used to show the physical connections.
Components are described by equipment specifications and can be decomposed to lower-level diagrams:
It will be common to have both an AID and a collection of PADs in an architecture model. The AID will show the physical components and the logical connections between them. There will be one or more associated PADs, each showing the same physical components, but showing alternative physical connections (such as a bus or point-to-point links) by which these components are interconnected in that specific topology.
AIDs are hierarchical. Their connectivity is:
AIDs can only appear in models in the Implementation Domain.
Numbering of AIDsThe numbering system for AIDs is alphanumeric dot-decimal.
SymbolsAn example AID is:
The symbols available in AIDs are:
| Symbol | Name | Description | Definition | Expansion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Comment | Makes a note anywhere in the diagram. Are always surrounded by * characters. Note: If you do not want Cradle to automatically add an * go to the Graphics Settings section of Project Setup and turn off the Automatically add asterisks to diagram's comment symbols option. | None | None |
 | Boundary Point | A connection point for the initial transition to enter the initial state. | None | None |
 | Environment | Represents external system or environment to this system. | Environment | None |
 | Picture | Allows you to choose the location of a GIF or JPEG image to be displayed as a diagram symbol or to be embedded in an existing diagram symbol. | None | None |
 | Circular Component | Represents a system item categorised as a component (optional symbology). | Equipment specification | AID DFD BD UCD IDF |
 | Rectangular Component | Represents a system item categorised as a component (optional symbology). | Equipment specification | AID DFD BD UCD IDF |
 | Triangular Component | Represents a system item categorised as a component (optional symbology). | Equipment specification | AID DFD BD UCD IDF |
 | Circular Element | Represents a system item categorised as an element (optional symbology). | None | None |
 | Rectangular Element | Represents a system item categorised as an element (optional symbology). | None | None |
 | Triangular Element | Represents a system item categorised as an element (optional symbology). | None | None |
 | Data Link | Represents low volume connection for data link. | Interface data definition | None |
 | Data Channel | Represents high volume channel connection for complex or large data link. | Interface data definition | None |
 | Signal Link | Represents low volume connection for signal link. | Interface data definition | None |
 | Signal Channel | Represents high volume channel connection for complex or large signal link. | Interface data definition | None |
 | Item | Represents a requirement or system note in the diagram. | None | None |
 | Context Item | Represents a requirement or system note in a diagram and is a container within which other object symbols can be drawn or attached. | None | None |
 | Cross Reference Link | Represents a cross reference that exists between a pair of system notes/requirements. It can also represent a cross reference between a system note/requirement and a specification or data definition or system that describes the objects symbols that it connects. | None | None |