Modeling roles a practical series of analysis patterns

Abstract

While performing object oriented analysis, one often encounters problems related to roles. Roles are what any concept (or class) would play within the context of it's related concepts (or classes). For instance a "company" would be the "supplier" of some specific "product". "Supplier" is a role. All role problems can be easily solved by selecting one of the following 5 role patterns: Role Inheritance, Association Roles, Role Classes, Generalized Role Classes and Association Class Roles. Each role pattern contains its own blend of power, flexibility and complexity. Together, they offer a complete solution to all role problems.