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A Meta-model Semantics for Structural Constraints in UML

Kent, Stuart and Gaito, S. and Ross, N. (1999) A Meta-model Semantics for Structural Constraints in UML. In: Kilov, Haim and Rumpe, Bernhard and Simmonds, Ian, eds. Behavioral specifications for businesses and systems. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Norwell, MA, pp. 123-141. (doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-5229-1_9) (KAR id:21778)

Abstract

The UML standard has adopted a meta-modelling approach to defining the abstract syntax of UML. A meta-modelling approach is taken essentially to aid the construction of automated tools, but the semantics is defined by statements in English. A meta-model that incorporates precise semantics would support the construction of tools that could perform semantically-oriented tasks, such as consistency checking. One approach to defining the formal semantics of a language is denotational: essentially elaborating (in mathematics) the value or instance denoted by an expression of the language in a particular context. However, instances must also be expressed in some language: in UML, instances of the static model are expressed using object diagrams. Thus a meta-model can be constructed which incorporates (a) the modelling language itself, (b) the modelling language of instances, and (c) the mapping of one into the other. The current UML meta-model provides some support for (a) and (b), but not (c). (c) is the part that carries the semantics. This paper presents one such meta-model, for a fragment of UML suitable for describing and constraining object structures. The fragment includes parts of class diagrams and invariants in the style of OCL. An indication is given as to how the approach could be extended to models characterising dynamic behaviour.

Item Type: Book section
DOI/Identification number: 10.1007/978-1-4615-5229-1_9
Additional information: Chapter 9
Uncontrolled keywords: meta-model, semantics, UML, constraints, invariants, visual modelling, object-oriented modelling
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 76 Software, computer programming,
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Computing
Depositing User: Mark Wheadon
Date Deposited: 29 Sep 2009 12:44 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Mar 2023 11:29 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/21778 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Kent, Stuart.

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