Using integrated metamodeling to define OO design patterns with object-z and UML

Three important goals in describing software design patterns are: generality, precision, and understandability. To address these goals, this paper presents an integrated approach to specifying patterns using Object-Z and UML. To achieve the generality goal, we adopt a role-based metamodeling approach to define patterns. With this approach, each pattern is defined as a pattern role model. To achieve precision, we formalize role concepts using Object-Z (a role metamodel) and use these concepts to define patterns (pattern role models). To achieve understandability, we represent the role metamodel and pattern role models visually using UML. Our pattern role models provide a precise basis for pattern-based model transformations or refactoring approaches.

A formal metamodeling approach to a transformation between the UML state machine and object-z

A significant problem with currently suggested approaches for transforming between models in different languages is that the transformation is often described imprecisely, with the result that the overall transformation task may be imprecise, incomplete and inconsistent. This paper presents a formal metamodeling approach for transforming between UML and Object-Z. In the paper, the two languages are defined in terms of their formal metamodels, and a systematic transformation between the models is provided at the meta-level in terms of formal mapping functions. As a consequence, we can provide a precise, consistent and complete transformation between them.

A formal object-oriented approach to defining consistency constraints for UML models

We discuss how integrity consistency constraints between different UML models can be precisely defined at a language level. In doing so, we introduce a formal object-oriented metamodeling approach. In the approach, integrity consistency constraints between UML models are defined in terms of invariants of the UML model elements used to define the models at the language-level. Adopting a formal approach, constraints are formally defined using Object-Z. We demonstrate how integrity consistency constraints for UML models can be precisely defined at the language-level and once completed, the formal description of the consistency constraints will be a precise reference of checking consistency of UML models as well as for tool development.