System Modeling

Key Points:

A model is an abstract view of a system that ignores system details. Complementary system models can be developed to show the system's context, interactions, structure and behavior. Context models show how a system that is being modeled is positioned in an environment with other systems and processes. Use case diagrams and sequence diagrams are used to describe the interactions between users and systems in the system being designed. Use cases describe interactions between a system and external actors; sequence diagrams add more information to these by showing interactions between system objects. Structural models show the organization and architecture of a system. Class diagrams are used to define the static structure of classes in a system and their associations.

Types of UML diagrams:

Activity diagrams, which show the activities involved in a process or in data processing . Use case diagrams, which show the interactions between a system and its environment. Sequence diagrams, which show interactions between actors and the system and between system components. Class diagrams, which show the object classes in the system and the associations between these classes. State diagrams, which show how the system reacts to internal and external events.

System Perspectives:

An external perspective, where you model the context or environment of the system. An interaction perspective, where you model the interactions between a system and its environment, or between the components of a system. A structural perspective, where you model the organization of a system or the structure of the data that is processed by the system. A behavioral perspective, where you model the dynamic behavior of the system and how it responds to events.

Key Points (CONTd):

Behavioral models are used to describe the dynamic behavior of an executing system. This behavior can be modeled from the perspective of the data processed by the system, or by the events that stimulate responses from a system. Activity diagrams may be used to model the processing of data, where each activity represents one process step. State diagrams are used to model a system's behavior in response to internal or external events.

Process Perspective:

Context models simply show the other systems in the environment, not how the system being developed is used in that environment. (Context models are used to illustrate the operational context of a system - they show what lies outside the system boundaries) Process models reveal how the system being developed is used in broader business processes. UML activity diagrams may be used to define business process models.

Behavior Models:

DATA-EVENTS Behavioral models are models of the dynamic behavior of a system as it is executing. They show what happens or what is supposed to happen when a system responds to a stimulus from its environment. You can think of these stimuli as being of two types: Data Some data arrives that has to be processed by the system. Events Some event happens that triggers system processing. Events may have associated data, although this is not always the case.

Event-Driven Modeling:

Real-time systems are often event-driven, with minimal data processing. For example, a landline phone switching system responds to events such as 'receiver off hook' by generating a dial tone. Event-driven modeling shows how a system responds to external and internal events. It is based on the assumption that a system has a finite number of states and that events (stimuli) may cause a transition from one state to another.

Sequence Diagrams

Sequence diagrams are part of the UML and are used to model the interactions between the actors and the objects within a system. A sequence diagram shows the sequence of interactions that take place during a particular use case or use case instance. The objects and actors involved are listed along the top of the diagram, with a dotted line drawn vertically from these. Interactions between objects are indicated by annotated arrows.

System Modeling:

The process of developing abstract models of a system, with each model presenting a different view or perspective of that system. Now means representing a system using some kind of graphical notation, which is based usually on UML (UNIFIED MODELING LANGUAGE)

State Machine Models:

These model the behaviour of the system in response to external and internal events. They show the system's responses to stimuli so are often used for modelling real-time systems. State machine models show system states as nodes and events as arcs between these nodes. When an event occurs, the system moves from one state to another. Statecharts are an integral part of the UML and are used to represent state machine models.

Interaction Models:

Use case diagrams and sequence diagrams may be used for interaction modelling. Modeling user interaction is important as it helps to identify user requirements. Modeling system-to-system interaction highlights the communication problems that may arise. Modeling component interaction helps us understand if a proposed system structure is likely to deliver the required system performance and dependability.

Structural Models:

You create structural models of a system when you are discussing and designing the system architecture. Structural models of software display the organization of a system in terms of the components that make up that system and their relationships. Structural models may be static models, which show the structure of the system design, or dynamic models, which show the organization of the system when it is executing.