Modeling distributed software systems with object coordination nets

Abstract

A dedicated approach for the design and development of distributed software systems is outlined. The method may be used in combination with any standard object oriented analysis and design method as far as static aspects are concerned. A new formalism based on extended Petri nets-so called Object Coordination Nets (OCoNs)-is used to describe the coordination of the behavior of a class on a per service (method) basis, the allocation of object resources as well as behavioral contracts. The paper discusses the rationale behind the key points of the OCoN approach, introduces the method and illustrates it by means of an extended example