Static- and dynamic consistency analysis of UML state chart models

Abstract

UML state chart models describing the behavior of a system can be used as a formal specification thereof. The existence of advanced modeling tools allows for model simulation and enables the execution of manually created tests on the models. In this work the usage of static and dynamic model analysis techniques is proposed to reveal errors in these models. The static analysis focuses on the syntax, communication structure and non-determinism. The dynamic analysis is based on a random test approach and can reveal bugs like deadlocks and inter-model loops. Further the data generated during the dynamic analysis allows for additional correctness checks such as e.g. the number or lengths of paths. The presented approach is implemented in a prototype and revealed several bugs in an industrial case study not found during simulation and manual model testing. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.