It is widely accepted within the software engineering community that the support
for integration is necessary for requirement models. Several methodologies, such as
the role-based software development, that have appeared in the literature are relying
on some kind of integration. However, current integration techniques and their tools
support are insufficient. In this research, we discuss our solution to the problem.
More precisely, we present a general integration approach for scenario-based models, particularly for UML Sequence Diagrams, based on the colimit construction known from category theory.
In our approach, Sequence Diagrams are represented by SD-graphs, a special kind
of typed graphs. The merge algorithm for SD-graphs is an extension of existing merge
operations on sets and graphs. On the one hand, the merge algorithm ensures traceability and guarantees key theoretical properties (e.g., “everything is represented and nothing extra is acquired” during the merge). On the other hand, our formalization
of Sequence Diagrams as SD-graphs retains the graphical nature of Sequence Diagrams,
yet is amenable to algebraic manipulations. Another important property of our process is that our approach is applicable to other kinds of models as long as they can be represented by typed graphs.
A prototype Sequence Diagram integration tool following the approach has been implemented. The tool is not only a fully functional integration tool, but also served
as a test bed for our theory and provided feedback for our theoretical framework. To
support the discovery and specification of model relationships, we also present a list
of high-level merge patterns in this dissertation.
We believe our theory and tool are beneficial to both academia and industry, as the initial evaluation has shown that the ideas presented in this dissertation represent promising steps towards the more rigorous management of requirement models.
We also present an approach connecting model transformation with source transformation
and allowing an existing source transformation language (TXL) to be used
for model transformation. Our approach leverages grammar generators to ease the
task of creating model transformations and inherits many of the strengths of the
underlying transformation language (e.g., efficiency and maturity). / Thesis (Ph.D, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-28 13:03:08.607
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:OKQ.1974/5129 |
| Date | 03 September 2009 |
| Creators | LIANG, HONGZHI |
| Contributors | Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.). Theses (Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.)) |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 2553268 bytes, application/pdf |
| Rights | This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner. |
| Relation | Canadian theses |
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