Webel: SysMLv1: TIP: Consider using high level "communication" Associations between Blocks in BDDs and corresponding object diagram BDDs WITHOUT any Ports, with Links typed by the Associations. Object diagrams are great for exploring Slot values, too.

Consider (as well as having IBDs with connected Ports) using high level "communication" Associations between Blocks in BDDs and corresponding object/instance BDD diagrams WITHOUT any Ports, with links between corresponding InstanceSpecification "objects" typed by the Associations.

The term "communication" Association is not a formal term. The idea is to capture at a high level across a project a high level easy to understand view of what can communicate with what at all.

This may seem like a bit of extra work, and it does introduce a bit of maintenance overhead, but it is often worth doing, goes quickly, and can really help communicate with stakeholders not familiar with SysML.

It also enables you to play with Slots (specific values) on the instances, which can be very informative, and is a great way to explore, for example, data fields.

However:

Links can't carry SysML ItemFlows

Therefore consider also:

Webel: SysMLv1: TIP: Consider using high level "communication" Associations between Blocks in BDDs with ItemFlows and corresponding context IBDs WITHOUT any Ports, with Connectors typed by the Associations (as well, in parallel with your port-based IBDs).

And remember always:

Webel: SysML: Heard of "follow the money"? In MBSE we "follow the flows"! Identify requests, data packets, message, signals early on and use ItemFlow as often as you can wherever you can! Adopt a signal processing mindset throughout (systems thinking).

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