Roles at the Basis of UML Validation

Abstract

Formal validation of UML models proves to be hardly realizable, due to the imprecise semantics of UML dynamic diagrams. To remedy that, we first present a technique for transforming UML statecharts into Petri nets. We develop afterwards, an approach based on the movement of the objects throughout the roles they play. This approach allows validation of the temporal logic properties translated from the OCL invariants, on the Petri nets derived from the UML models. System property validation is realized thanks to a prior initialization of the objects and exchanged messages between the communicating objects. A case study is given to illustrate the methodology.