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International Conference on the Unified Modeling Language

UML 2000: ≪UML≫ 2000 — The Unified Modeling Language pp 323–337Cite as

Dynamic Meta Modeling: A Graphical Approach to the Operational Semantics of Behavioral Diagrams in UML

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Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 1939))

Abstract

In this paper, dynamic meta modeling is proposed as a new approach to the operational semantics of behavioral UML diagrams. The dynamic meta model extends the well-known static meta model by a speci.cation of the system’s dynamics by means of collaboration diagrams. In this way, it is possible to de.ne the behavior of UML diagrams within UML.

The conceptual idea is inherited from Plotkin’s structured operational semantics (SOS) paradigm, a style of semantics speci.cation for concurrent programming languages and process calculi: Collaboration diagrams are used as deduction rules to specify a goal-oriented interpreter for the language. The approach is exemplified using a fragment of UML statechart and object diagrams.

Formally, collaboration diagrams are interpreted as graph transformation rules. In this way, dynamic UML semantics can be both mathematically rigorous so as to enable formal specifications and proofs and, due to the use of UML notation, understandable without prior knowledge of heavy mathematic machinery. Thus, it can be used as a reference by tool developers, teachers, and advanced users.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Paderborn, D-33098, Paderborn, Germany

    Gregor Engels, Jan Hendrik Hausmann, Reiko Heckel & Stefan Sauer

Authors
  1. Gregor Engels
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  2. Jan Hendrik Hausmann
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  3. Reiko Heckel
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  4. Stefan Sauer
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, University of York, Y010 5DD, Heslington, York, UK

    Andy Evans

  2. Computing Laboratory, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK

    Stuart Kent

  3. Rational Software Inc., 340 March Road, Kanata, K2K,2E4, Ontario, Canada

    Bran Selic

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© 2000 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Engels, G., Hausmann, J.H., Heckel, R., Sauer, S. (2000). Dynamic Meta Modeling: A Graphical Approach to the Operational Semantics of Behavioral Diagrams in UML. In: Evans, A., Kent, S., Selic, B. (eds) ≪UML≫ 2000 — The Unified Modeling Language. UML 2000. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1939. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-40011-7_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-40011-7_23

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-41133-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-40011-0

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