Incremental Consistency Checking in Delta-oriented UML-Models for Automation Systems

TL;DR

This paper presents an efficient incremental consistency checking method for multi-perspective UML models with delta modeling, aimed at managing variability and evolution in automation systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel incremental consistency checking approach across multiple UML perspectives and delta applications, enhancing system validity management.

Findings

Improved consistency checking efficiency for evolving UML models.

Supports validation across multiple perspectives and delta modifications.

Facilitates reliable development of variant-rich automation systems.

Abstract

Automation systems exist in many variants and may evolve over time in order to deal with different environment contexts or to fulfill changing customer requirements. This induces an increased complexity during design-time as well as tedious maintenance efforts. We already proposed a multi-perspective modeling approach to improve the development of such systems. It operates on different levels of abstraction by using well-known UML-models with activity, composite structure and state chart models. Each perspective was enriched with delta modeling to manage variability and evolution. As an extension, we now focus on the development of an efficient consistency checking method at several levels to ensure valid variants of the automation system. Consistency checking must be provided for each perspective in isolation, in-between the perspectives as well as after the application of a delta.