A formal semantics of UML sequence diagram

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64 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper presents a formal semantics of UML sequence diagram. In abstract syntax form, a well-formed sequence diagram corresponds to an ordered hierarchical structure tree. The static semantics of a sequence diagram is to check whether it is consistent with the class diagram declaration as well as with its well-formed tree structure. Meanwhile, the dynamic semantics is defined in terms of the state transitions that are carried out by the method invocations in the diagram. When a message is executed, it must be consistent with system state, i.e., object diagram and the state diagrams of its related objects. The semantics clearly captures the consistency between sequence diagram with class diagram and state diagram. Therefore, it is useful to develop the model consistent checking functions in UML CASE tools. And it also can be used to reason about the correctness of a design model with respect to a requirement model.

Original languageEnglish
Pages168-177
Number of pages10
StatePublished - 2004
Externally publishedYes
EventProceedings - 2004 Australian Software Engineering Conference ASWEC 2004 - Melbourne, Vic., Australia
Duration: 13 Apr 200416 Apr 2004

Conference

ConferenceProceedings - 2004 Australian Software Engineering Conference ASWEC 2004
Country/TerritoryAustralia
CityMelbourne, Vic.
Period13/04/0416/04/04

Keywords

  • Consistency
  • Semantics
  • Sequence diagram
  • UML

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