HybridUML Profile for UML 2.0

Authors

Kirsten Berkenkötter, Stefan Bisanz, Ulrich Hannemann, and Jan Peleska

Abstract

In this article, a new UML extension for the specification of hybrid systems, where observables may consist of both discrete and time-continuous parameters, is presented. The construction uses the profile mechanism of UML 2.0 which is the standard procedure for extending the Unified Modeling Language. Whereas hybrid modeling constructs are not available in standard UML, several specification formalisms for this type of system have been elaborated and discussed in the formal methods communities. As a basis for the new UML profile, the authors adopt one of these formalisms - the CHARON language of Alur et. al. - already possessing several attractive features for modeling embedded real-time systems with hybrid characteristics. As a result, the profile inherits the formal CHARON semantics, so it offers the possibility for formal reasoning about hybrid UML specifications. Conversely, CHARON is associated with a new syntactic representation within the UML 2.0 world, allowing to develop hybrid specifications with arbitrary CASE tools supporting UML 2.0 and its profiling mechanism. The "look-and-feel" of the profile is illustrated by means of a case study of an embedded system controlling the cabin illumination in an aircraft. The benefits and weaknesses of the constructed hybrid UML profile are discussed, resulting in feed-back for the improvement of both UML 2.0 and the CHARON formalism.

Full Article

Download the full article including the complete UML Profile: pdf format or gzipped ps format

Case Study

The case study included in the article is additionally specified for the CHARON simulator. The specification documents are located here.
See the CHARON homepage and download page. You need the "main CHARON toolkit".

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Last updated: November 2, 2022