Verifying the structure and behavior in UML/OCL models using satisfiability solvers

Abstract

Due to the ever increasing complexity of embedded and cyber-physical systems, corresponding design solutions relying on modelling languages such as Unified Modelling Language (UML)/Object Constraint Language (OCL) find increasing attention. Due to the recent success of formal verification techniques, UML/OCL models also allow to verify and/or check certain properties of a given model in early stages of the design phase. To this end, different approaches for verification and validation have been proposed. In this work, the authors motivate, define, and describe different verification tasks for structural, as well as behavioural UML/OCL models that can be solved using solvers for Boolean satisfiability. They describe how these verification tasks can be translated into a symbolic formulation which is passed to off-the-shelf solvers afterwards. The obtained results enable designers to draw conclusions about the correctness of the considered model.

Practical Constraint Solving for Generating System Test Data

“…Since Alloy and UMLtoCSP are currently the main technologies used for OCL solving, we empirically compared PLEDGE against them in our evaluation (Section 7). In addition to Alloy and UMLtoCSP, there are several threads of work where OCL constraints are solved through translation, with the main translation targets being SAT [49,61,75] and SMT [18,23,62].…”

Table‐based formal specification approaches for control engineers—empirical studies of usability

“…Przigoda et al. [42] utilised Unified Modelling Language (UML) and Object Constraint Language (OCL) models to be used for property verification. GTTs [16, 17] are suggested recently as a formal specification language of reactive systems, covering usability limitations.…”

“…Darvas et al [41] presented a formal specification language for PLC programs aiming at code generation, although it lacks details of state change descriptions. Przigoda et al [42] utilised Unified Modelling Language (UML) and Object Constraint Language (OCL) models to be used for property verification. GTTs [16,17] are suggested recently as a formal specification language of reactive systems, covering usability limitations.…”

Formal verification of ontology transformation for distribution network information model based on meta‐model theory

“…Model updating and model mapping are essentially model‐driven system transformation processes [20]. The updating is to adjust the model on the existing structure, and the mapping is to change the model from one structure to another conserving the bidirectional conversion capability [21]. The meta‐model is the framework modelling the model, namely the methods, steps, and rules applied in the transformation.…”

“…Rule‐G. Safety deletion rule : A class can be safely deleted only when all the attributes are concluded and all logical relationships with other classes are deleted [21].…”