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Integrating Petri Net Semantics in a Model-Driven Approach: The Renew Meta-Modeling and Transformation Framework

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Transactions on Petri Nets and Other Models of Concurrency XI

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((TOPNOC,volume 9930))

Abstract

This paper presents an approach to the development of modeling languages and automated generation of specific modeling tools based on meta-models. Modeling is one of the main tasks in engineering. Graphical modeling helps the engineer not only to understand the system but also to communicate with engineers and with other stakeholders that participate in the development (or analytic) process.

In order to be able to provide adequately adapted modeling techniques for a given domain, it is useful to support the development of techniques that are designed for their special purpose, i.e. domain-specific modeling languages (DSML). For this purpose meta-modeling comes in handy. Meta-models provide a clear abstract syntax and model-driven design approaches allow for rapid prototyping of modeling languages. However, the transformation and also the original (source model) as well as the transformed (target) model often do not provide a clear semantics.

We present an approach to model-driven development that is based on Petri nets: high- and low-level Petri nets in various formalisms can be used as target models. The presented approach uses ontology-based meta-models, code and graphical templates, as well as custom and predefined transformation engines. The RMT framework provides the generation of modeling tools and the transformation into executable and/or analyzable models based on the defined Petri net semantics.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Eclipse Modeling Framework, EMF, https://www.eclipse.org/modeling/emf/.

  2. 2.

    RMT: Renew Meta-Modeling and Transformation Framework, tools and examples: http://www.paose.net/wiki/Metamodeling.

  3. 3.

    Note that the diagram elements are partly collapsed, i.e. the role and the services.

  4. 4.

    In the following we will address these models as domain models or source models.

  5. 5.

    Elements already defined in the BPNM meta-model are depicted in gray.

  6. 6.

    A plugin to support the exchange of models through XMI serializations is currently in development.

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Acknowledgment

We thank Dr. Daniel Moldt and the TGI group of the Department of Informatics, University of Hamburg for their support, constructive criticism and fruitful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Department of Informatics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    David Mosteller, Lawrence Cabac & Michael Haustermann

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  1. David Mosteller
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  2. Lawrence Cabac
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to David Mosteller , Lawrence Cabac or Michael Haustermann .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

    Maciej Koutny

  2. FernUniversität in Hagen , Hagen, Germany

    Jörg Desel

  3. Leiden University , Leiden, The Netherlands

    Jetty Kleijn

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Mosteller, D., Cabac, L., Haustermann, M. (2016). Integrating Petri Net Semantics in a Model-Driven Approach: The Renew Meta-Modeling and Transformation Framework. In: Koutny, M., Desel, J., Kleijn, J. (eds) Transactions on Petri Nets and Other Models of Concurrency XI. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 9930. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53401-4_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53401-4_5

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