Abstract
We present a comprehensive unified modeling language (UML) statechart diagram analysis framework. This framework allows one to progressively perform different analysis operations to analyze UML statechart diagrams at different levels of model complexity. The analysis operations supported by the framework are based on analyzing Petri net models converted from UML statechart diagrams using a previously proposed transformation approach. After introducing the general framework, the paper emphasizes two simulation-based analysis operations from the framework: direct MSC inspection, which provides a visual representation of system behavior described by statechart diagrams; and a pattern-based trace query technique, which can be used to define and query system properties. Two case-study examples are presented with different emphasis. The gas station example is a simple multi-object system used to demonstrate both the visual and query-based analysis operations. The early warning system example uses only one object, but features composite states and includes analysis specifically aimed at one composite state feature, history states.
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Notes
In the same way that testing results are only valid with respect to the set of test cases used to establish the testing results.
This example is adapted from a specification and partial statechart solution provided by N. Medvidović (Department of Computer Science, Univ. of Southern Calif.), with permission.
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Acknowledgement
We acknowledge Robert Parkes for his contributions in the implementation and documentation of the SQT tool, and we thank the reviewers for many insightful suggestions that significantly improved the technical and presentation quality of the described work.
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This material is based upon work supported by the US Army Research Office under grant number W911NF-05-1-0573.
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Lian, J., Hu, Z. & Shatz, S.M. Simulation-based analysis of UML statechart diagrams: methods and case studies. Software Qual J 16, 45–78 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11219-007-9020-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11219-007-9020-9