Workflow modeling based on extended activity diagram using ASM semantics

Abstract

The Unified Modeling Language(UML) provides rich notations for representing and analyzing architecture and behaviors of systems. Among these notations, UML activity diagram is well-known for describing systems' dynamic behaviors, and it is useful to model business process and workflow. Currently, the UML semantics is informally defined in plain text and it is often unclear, ambiguous or it contains contradictory assertions. It is difficult to present the precise semantics which are taken as important in workflow system with the guide provided by OMG to the UML activity diagram. In this thesis, the alternative approach of using Abstract State Machines to formalize UML activity diagrams is presented. We propose the workflow modeling methodology by applying ASM semantics to the activity diagram. Through the exact definition to formal semantics based on ASM, it is possible to effectively model the workflow. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.