Software testing is a vital part of the software development process, usually implemented at the coding stage, and costly. Due to the increased use of the Unified Modeling Language (UML) and Model Driven Architecture (MDA) approach in systems analysis and design, Model-Based Testing has been discussed as a prominent solution for software testing to reduce the cost of software testing. Prior researches proposed an integrated method which utilizes the artifacts from the Platform Independent Model (PIM) to construct the test paths and generate the test cases. This study develops a methodology which extracting the information from PIM (e.g., Sequence Diagram and Class diagram) to generate the test cases directly. The research methodology is articulated using the design science research methodology. A usability evaluation is performed to demonstrate its applicability. With this methodology, the test cases can be easily generated; thereby reducing the cost and enhancing the efficiency of Model-Based Testing.

Software testing is a vital part of the software development process and is costly. Due to the increased use of the unified modeling language and model driven architecture approach in systems analysis and design, model-based testing has been discussed as a prominent solution for software testing to reduce the cost of software testing. Prior researches proposed an integrated method which utilizes the artifacts from the Platform Independent Model (PIM) to construct the test path and constrained class tuples. These two can then be integrated to construct an Integrated Testing Model (ITM) for determining the test data and test cases for Model-Based Testing. This study develops a methodology which extracting the information from ITM to construct the test cases. The research methodology is articulated using the design science research methodology. A prototype embedded methodology has been developed to automatically generate the test cases. A usability evaluation is performed on the prototype to demonstrate its usability. With this methodology, the test cases can be generated automatically; thereby reducing the cost and enhancing the efficiency of Model-Based Testing.

As transformações de modelos são um ponto vital para os enfoques de desenvolvimento dirigido por modelos, incluindo a MDA. No presente trabalho apresenta-se alguns dos conceitos da MDA relacionados a transformações de modelos. São vistos os conceitos de PIM, PSM, transformações, mapeamentos e marcas. Estes conceitos são analisados no contexto de três ferramentas MDA, a OptimalJ, a AndroMDA e a ArcStyler, para verificar se as ferramentas os implementam de acordo com a MDA. Também é analisado como e quais transformações e mapeamentos de modelos estão sendo implementados pelas ferramentas, através da comparação qualitativa de definições de conceitos e de exemplos do uso destes. Além de verificar os conceitos relacionados às transformações, faz-se um estudo de caso qualitativo para analisar as transformações e mapeamentos providos pelas ferramentas e como as ferramentas trabalham com eles. Mostram-se as dificuldades de se criar um modelo PIM do sistema do estudo de caso e adaptá-lo para cada uma das ferramentas. / Model transformations are a vital point for model driven development, including MDA. In the present essay we introduce some of the MDA concepts related with model transformations. We present the concept of PIM, PSM, transformations, mappings and marks. These concepts are analyzed in the context of three MDA tools, OptimalJ, AndroMDA and ArcStyler, to verify if the tools implement the concepts according to MDA. We also analyze how and which model transformations and model mappings are being implemented by the tools, through a qualitative comparison of the definition of these concepts and using some examples of their intended use. In addition to verifying the concepts related to transformations, we create a qualitative case study to analyze the model transformations and model mappings provided by the tools, and how the tools work with them. We show a few of the problems faced when creating a PIM model of the case study\'s system and the adaptations it required for each tool.

As transformações de modelos são um ponto vital para os enfoques de desenvolvimento dirigido por modelos, incluindo a MDA. No presente trabalho apresenta-se alguns dos conceitos da MDA relacionados a transformações de modelos. São vistos os conceitos de PIM, PSM, transformações, mapeamentos e marcas. Estes conceitos são analisados no contexto de três ferramentas MDA, a OptimalJ, a AndroMDA e a ArcStyler, para verificar se as ferramentas os implementam de acordo com a MDA. Também é analisado como e quais transformações e mapeamentos de modelos estão sendo implementados pelas ferramentas, através da comparação qualitativa de definições de conceitos e de exemplos do uso destes. Além de verificar os conceitos relacionados às transformações, faz-se um estudo de caso qualitativo para analisar as transformações e mapeamentos providos pelas ferramentas e como as ferramentas trabalham com eles. Mostram-se as dificuldades de se criar um modelo PIM do sistema do estudo de caso e adaptá-lo para cada uma das ferramentas. / Model transformations are a vital point for model driven development, including MDA. In the present essay we introduce some of the MDA concepts related with model transformations. We present the concept of PIM, PSM, transformations, mappings and marks. These concepts are analyzed in the context of three MDA tools, OptimalJ, AndroMDA and ArcStyler, to verify if the tools implement the concepts according to MDA. We also analyze how and which model transformations and model mappings are being implemented by the tools, through a qualitative comparison of the definition of these concepts and using some examples of their intended use. In addition to verifying the concepts related to transformations, we create a qualitative case study to analyze the model transformations and model mappings provided by the tools, and how the tools work with them. We show a few of the problems faced when creating a PIM model of the case study\'s system and the adaptations it required for each tool.

The main goal of testing is to find errors in the System Under Test (SUT). Prior research indicated that Model-Based Testing is indeed good at finding SUT errors, can lead to less time and effort spent on testing if the time needed to write and maintain the model plus the time spent on directing the test generation is less than the cost of manually designing and maintaining a test suite. This study proposed a methodology for Model-Based Testing. In this approach, Sequence Diagrams and Class Diagram are used to determine the testing path and test case and Object Constraint Language is used to specify the business logic constraint. Three real-world cases and a CASE tool are used to test the usability (including the concepts, application, and advantages) of the proposed methodology. With this approach, SUT errors can be found at the systems analysis and design stage and thereby reduce the cost of software testing and enhance the efficiency of system development.

The main goal of model testing is to find system errors at the systems analysis and design stage and thereby reduce the cost of software testing and enhance the efficiency of system development. Prior researches proposed an Integrated Method which utilizes the artifacts from the Platform Independent Model (PIM) to construct the test path and constrained class tuples (CCT). These two can then be integrated to construct an Integrated Testing Model (ITM) for determining the test data and test cases for Model-Based Testing. This study develops a methodology which extracting the information from the Sequence Diagram and Class Diagram from the PIM to construct an ITM. The research methodology is articulated using the design science research methodology. A prototype embedded methodology has been developed. A usability evaluation is performed on the prototype to demonstrate its usability in terms of the factors, efficiency and effectiveness. With this methodology, the test paths, CCT and ITM can be generated automatically; thereby reducing the costs and increasing the efficiency of Model-Based Testing.

La especificación Model Driven Architecture (MDA), es una especialización del desarrollo dirigido por modelos que separa la lógica del negocio del software y las plataformas tecnológicas. Para ello MDA define tres tipos de modelos. Los CIM, Computation Independent Model, asociados al dominio del negocio, los PIM, Platform Independent Model, asociados a modelos abstractos del software, y los PSM, Platform Specific Model, relacionados con modelos de software específicos de plataformas tecnológicas. Sin embargo MDA no detalla cómo deben ser los modelos CIM y tampoco describe cómo deben ser transformados a modelos PIM. Como solución a dicho problema, esta tesis presenta una recomendación que propone un proceso de desarrollo de software basado en la creación de modelos de procesos del negocio, clasificados como CIM, que son asociados a los modelos iniciales del software, considerados PIM. Partiendo de una interpretación válida de MDA, la recomendación propuesta se apoya además en la aplicación de otras disciplinas de gran actualidad. Entre ellas destacamos el uso de desarrollo ágil de software, para la definición adecuada de los procesos del negocio.

With the rapid migration of physical layer design of radio towards software, it becomes necessary to select or develop the platform and tools that help in achieving rapid design and development along with flexibility and reconfigurability. The availability of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) has promoted the concept of reconfigurable hardware for software defined radio (SDR). It enables the designer to create high speed radios with flexibility, low latency and high throughput. Generally, the traditional method of designing FPGA based radios limits productivity. Productivity can be improved using Model based design (MBD) tools. These tools encourage a modular way of developing waveforms for radios. The tools based on MBD have been the focus of recent research exploring the concept of the platform independent model (PIM) and portability across platforms by the platform specific model (PSM). The thesis presented here explores the tools based on MBD to achieve prototyping for wireless standards like IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.16e on reconfigurable hardware. It also describes the interfacing of the universal software radio peripheral (USRP2), acting as a radio frequency (RF) front end, with an additional FPGA board for baseband processing. / Master of Science

The use of objective tests in Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) is based on the application of computers to support automatic assessment. Current research in this domain is mainly focused on the design of new question-items, being IMS Question and Test Interoperability (QTI) the recognized de-facto standard. This thesis claims that the domain can be extended with the design of advanced test-scenarios that integrate new interactive contexts for the visualization of question-items and tests, and that consider different types of devices and technologies that enable diverse activity settings. In this context, the dissertation proposes to term the domain as Computing-Based Testing (CBT) instead of Computer- Based Testing because it captures better the new technological support possibilities for testing. Advanced CBT scenarios can increase teachers’ choices in the design of more appropriate tests for their subject areas, enabling the assessment of higher-order skills. With the aim of modelling an advanced CBT domain that extends the current possibilities of QTI and related work, this thesis provides a set of contributions around three objectives. The first objective deals with proposing a Conceptual Model for the CBT domain considering three main dimensions: the Question-item, the Test and the Activity. To tackle this objective, the thesis presents, on the one hand, a framework to assist in the categorization and design of advanced CBT scenarios and, on the other hand, two models that suggest elements for technologically representing the Test and Question-item dimensions. The models are platform-independent models (PIM) that extend QTI in order to support advanced CBT. Besides, the use of patterns is proposed to complement the modelling of the domain. The second objective seeks to show the relevance, value and applicability of the CBT Conceptual Model through exemplary challenging scenarios and case studies in authentic settings. To this end, the dissertation evaluates the design and implementation of a set of CBT systems and experiments. All the experiments use the proposed CBT Conceptual Model for designing an advanced CBT scenario. For each case the CBT-PIMs serve as the basis for developing a particular CBT-PSM and system. The evaluation results show that the implementations foster educational benefits, enable the assessment of higher-order skills and enhance the students’ motivation. Finally, the third objective is devoted to propose extension paths for QTI. The collection of models proposed in the thesis suggests different extension directions for QTI so as to enable the implementation of advanced questions, tests and activities. The proposed systems and scenarios also represent reference implementation and good practices of the proposed extension paths. / El uso de test de corrección automática, en el Aprendizaje Apoyado por Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones, se basa en el uso de ordenadores. Las propuestas actuales se centran en el diseño de nuevas preguntas, siendo IMS Question and Test Interoperability (QTI) el estándar de-facto. La tesis propone que este dominio puede ser extendido con el diseño de escenarios de test avanzados que integren nuevos contextos de interacción para la visualización de preguntas y tests, y que consideren la aplicación de diversos dispositivos tecnológicos para permitir diversos tipos de actividades. En este contexto se propone usar el término inglés Computing-Based Testing (CBT) para referirse al dominio, en vez de usar el término Computer-Based Testing, enfatizando el papel de la tecnología para la evaluación basada en test. Los escenarios CBT avanzados pueden aumentar la posibilidad de que los profesores puedan diseñar test más adecuados para sus asignaturas, permitiendo la evaluación de habilidades de alto nivel. Con el reto principal de modelar el dominio del CBT extendiendo las posibilidades actuales de QTI y las aproximaciones actuales, esta tesis proporciona un conjunto de contribuciones relacionadas con tres objetivos. El primer objetivo de la tesis es proponer un Modelo Conceptual definiendo y relacionando tres dimensiones: Pregunta, Test y Actividad. Por una parte, se propone un marco como guía en la categorización y diseño de escenarios CBT. Además, se proponen dos modelos que indican los elementos para la representación tecnológica de preguntas y test. Estos modelos son independientes de plataforma (PIM) que extienden QTI formulando los elementos que permiten implementar escenarios CBT avanzados. Además, se propone el uso de patrones como complemento en el modelado del dominio. El segundo objetivo trata de mostrar la relevancia y aplicabilidad de las contribuciones a través de escenarios y casos de estudio representativos en contextos reales. Para ello, se evalúa el diseño e implementación de un conjunto de experimentos y sistemas. En todos los experimentos se utiliza el Modelo Conceptual para diseñar escenarios CBT avanzados. Para cada caso los CBT-PIMs sirven como base para desarrollar modelos específicos de plataforma (CBT-PSMs) y sistemas asociados. La evaluación muestra que las implementaciones resultantes tienen beneficios educativos positivos, permitiendo la evaluación de habilidades de alto nivel y mejorando la motivación de los estudiantes. Finalmente, el tercer objetivo se centra en proponer vías de extensión para QTI. La colección de modelos propuestos sugiere diferentes direcciones de extensión de QTI para la implementación de preguntas, tests y actividades avanzados. Los escenarios y sistemas llevados a cabo representan implementaciones de referencia y buenas prácticas para las vías de extensión propuestas.

The Model Driven Architecture (MDA) allows moving the software development from the time consuming and error-prone level of writing program code to the next higher level of modeling. In order to gain benefit from this innovative technology, it is necessary to satisfy two requirements. These are first, the creation of compact, complete and correct platform independent models (PIM) and second, the development of a flexible and extensible model transformation framework taking into account frequent changes of the target platform. In this thesis a platform-based methodology is developed to create PIM by abstracting common modeling elements into a platform independent modeling library called Design Platform Model (DPM). The DPM contains OCL-based types for modeling primitive and collection types, a platform independent GUI toolkit as well as other common modeling elements, such as those for IO-operations. Furthermore, a DPM profile containing diverse domain specific and design pattern-based stereotypes is also developed to create PIM with high-level semantics. The behavior in PIM is specified using an OCL-like action language called eXecutable OCL (XOCL), which is also developed in this thesis. For model transformation, the model compiler MOCCA is developed based on a flexible and extensible architecture. The model mapper components in the current version of MOCCA are able to map desktop applications onto JSE platform; the both business object layer and persistence layer of a three-layered enterprise applications onto JEE platform and SAP ABAP platform. The entire model transformation process is finished with complete code generation.