How you use ports and connections

When you work with models in Active Workspace, you can build hierarchical structures or blocks that represent functional and system architectures. A functional model illustrates a function set that the product delivers, and a system model illustrates a proposed solution for implementing the requirements and functions. You use connections in models to show how the functional and system blocks are integrated with one another.

A connection joins functional or system blocks. Ports are the points where inputs are consumed or outputs are generated. When you add functional and system connections to an architecture model, ports are automatically added. You can also manually add a connection between ports or between a port and a block that does not have a port.

You can add a connection only if it is valid for the blocks you have selected. For example, you can add connections only between functional or system blocks.

You add, move, and remove connections on a model when you want to change how functional or system blocks are integrated in the model.