Chapter 6: System Models

Omar MeqdadiSE 273 Lecture 6

Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering University of Wisconsin-Platteville

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Topics covered

Context models Behavioural models Data models

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System models

Abstract descriptions of systems whose requirements are being analysed

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System modelling

System modelling helps the analyst to Understand the functionality of the system Models are used to communicate with customers

Different models present the system from different perspectives External perspective showing the system’s context or environment Behavioural perspective showing the behaviour of the system Structural perspective showing the system or data architecture

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Model types

Data processing model showing how the data is processed at different stages.

Composition model showing how entities are composed of other entities.

Architectural model showing principal sub-systems. Classification model showing how entities have common

characteristics. Stimulus/response model showing the system’s reaction to

events.

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Context models

Architectural models show the system and its relationship with other systems.

Context models are used to illustrate the operational context of a system - they show what lies outside the system boundaries.

Social and organisational concerns may affect the decision on where to position system boundaries.

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The context of an ATM system

Auto-tellersystem

Securitysystem

Maintenancesystem

Accountdatabase

Usagedatabase

Branchaccounting

system

Branchcountersystem

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Process models

Process models show the overall process and the processes that are supported by the system.

Data flow models may be used to show the processes and the flow of information from one process to another.

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Equipment procurement process

Get costestimates

Acceptdelivery ofequipment

Checkdelivered

items

Validatespecification

Specifyequipmentrequired

Choosesupplier

Placeequipment

order

Installequipment

Findsuppliers

Supplierdatabase

Acceptdelivered

equipment

Equipmentdatabase

Equipmentspec.

Checkedspec.

Deliverynote

Deliverynote

Ordernotification

Installationinstructions

Installationacceptance

Equipmentdetails

Checked andsigned order form

Orderdetails plusblank order

form

Spec. +supplier +estimate

Supplier listEquipment

spec.

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Behavioural models

Behavioural models are used to describe the overall behaviour of a system.

Two types of behavioural model are: Data processing models that show how data is processed as

it moves through the system; State machine models that show the systems response to

events. These models show different perspectives so both of them

are required to describe the system’s behaviour.

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Data-processing models

Data flow diagrams (DFDs) may be used to model the system’s data processing.

These show the processing steps as data flows through a system.

DFDs are an intrinsic part of many analysis methods. Simple and intuitive notation that customers can

understand. Show end-to-end processing of data.

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Data flow diagrams

DFDs model the system from a functional perspective. Tracking and documenting how the data associated with a

process is helpful to develop an overall understanding of the system.

Data flow diagrams may also be used in showing the data exchange between a system and other systems in its environment.

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Order processing DFD

Completeorder form

Orderdetails +

blankorder form

Validateorder

Recordorder

Send tosupplier

Adjustavailablebudget

Budgetfile

Ordersfile

Completedorder form

Signedorder form

Signedorder form

Checked andsigned order

+ ordernotification

Orderamount

+ accountdetails

Signedorder form

Orderdetails

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Insulin pump DFD

Insulinrequirementcomputation

Blood sugaranalysis

Blood sugarsensor

Insulindelivery

controller

Insulinpump

Blood

Bloodparameters

Blood sugarlevel

Insulin

Pump controlcommands Insulin

requirement

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State machine models

Model the behaviour of the system in response to external and internal events.

Often used for modelling real-time systems. Show system states as nodes and events as arcs between these

nodes. When an event occurs, the system moves from one state to another.

Statecharts are an integral part of the UML and are used to represent state machine models.

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Statecharts

Allow the decomposition of a model into sub-models A brief description of the actions is included following

the ‘do’ in each state. Can be complemented by tables describing the states and

the stimuli.

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Microwave oven state description

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Microwave oven model

Full power

Enabled

do: operateoven

Fullpower

Halfpower

Halfpower

Fullpower

Number

Dooropen

Doorclosed

Doorclosed

Dooropen

Start

do: set power= 600

Half powerdo: set power

= 300

Set time

do: get numberexit: set time

Disabled

Operation

Cancel

Waiting

do: displaytime

Waiting

do: displaytime

do: display 'Ready'

do: display'Waiting'

Timer

Timer

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Data dictionaries

Data dictionaries are lists of all of the names used in the system models. Descriptions of the entities, relationships and attributes are also included.

Advantages Support name management and avoid duplication; Store of organisational knowledge linking analysis, design and

implementation; Many CASE workbenches support data dictionaries.

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Data dictionary entries

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Weather Monitoring System Requirements

The system shall have the means of determining the current time and date so that it can report the highest and lowest values for any of the four primary measurements during the previous 24 hour period.

The system shall have a display that continuously indicates all eight primary and derived measurements, as well as current time and date.

Through he use of a keypad the user may direct the system to display the 24 hour low or high of any one primary measurement, with the time of the reported value.

The system shall allow the user to calibrate its sensors against known values, and set the current time and date of the system clock.

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New Data Dictionary

Time & Date Sensors: Temperature, Pressure, Humidity, Wind Speed, Wind Direction Keypad Input Manager Display (LCD Device) Display Manager Timer (clock) Sensor Sampler

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Semantic data models

Used to describe the logical structure of data processed by the system.

An entity-relation-attribute model sets out the entities in the system, the relationships between these entities and the entity attributes

Widely used in database design. Can readily be implemented using relational databases.

No specific notation provided in the UML but objects and associations can be used.

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Library semantic model

Source

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