Thinging the Use Case Model

TL;DR

This paper explores the use case modeling technique through the lens of the thinging machine (TM) model, offering new insights into how use cases function as activation mechanisms for complex event-driven processes.

Contribution

It introduces the application of the TM model to use case analysis, clarifying concepts and providing a novel perspective on their role in software requirements modeling.

Findings

Use cases act as activation mechanisms for mega-triggering events.

TM model helps clarify the concept of events in use cases.

Remodeled use cases demonstrate the TM's explanatory power.

Abstract

Use cases as textual visual modeling techniques have become a key construct and the foundation of the most popular de facto standard technique for performing software requirements analysis and specification. This paper describes use cases in terms of a recently proposed model, the thinging machine (TM) model. Such a link to TM strengthens the notion of use cases and clarifies related concepts. For example, the concept of events is utilized in an unconstrained way in use cases, and TM may contribute in this direction. Several selected use cases are remodeled using TM. This study provides many insights. For example, one result shows that use cases are an activation apparatus of mega-triggering (high-level events) wherein a group of submachines (processes) are actuated.