60,274 research outputs found
A formal foundation for ontology alignment interaction models
Ontology alignment foundations are hard to find in the literature. The abstract nature of the topic and the diverse means of practice makes it difficult to capture it in a universal formal foundation. We argue that such a lack of formality hinders further development and convergence of practices, and in particular, prevents us from achieving greater levels of automation. In this article we present a formal foundation for ontology alignment that is based on interaction models between heterogeneous agents on the Semantic Web. We use the mathematical notion of information flow in a distributed system to ground our three hypotheses of enabling semantic interoperability and we use a motivating example throughout the article: how to progressively align two ontologies of research quality assessment through meaning coordination. We conclude the article with the presentation---in an executable specification language---of such an ontology-alignment interaction model
An Institutional Framework for Heterogeneous Formal Development in UML
We present a framework for formal software development with UML. In contrast
to previous approaches that equip UML with a formal semantics, we follow an
institution based heterogeneous approach. This can express suitable formal
semantics of the different UML diagram types directly, without the need to map
everything to one specific formalism (let it be first-order logic or graph
grammars). We show how different aspects of the formal development process can
be coherently formalised, ranging from requirements over design and Hoare-style
conditions on code to the implementation itself. The framework can be used to
verify consistency of different UML diagrams both horizontally (e.g.,
consistency among various requirements) as well as vertically (e.g.,
correctness of design or implementation w.r.t. the requirements)
Category Theory and Model-Driven Engineering: From Formal Semantics to Design Patterns and Beyond
There is a hidden intrigue in the title. CT is one of the most abstract
mathematical disciplines, sometimes nicknamed "abstract nonsense". MDE is a
recent trend in software development, industrially supported by standards,
tools, and the status of a new "silver bullet". Surprisingly, categorical
patterns turn out to be directly applicable to mathematical modeling of
structures appearing in everyday MDE practice. Model merging, transformation,
synchronization, and other important model management scenarios can be seen as
executions of categorical specifications.
Moreover, the paper aims to elucidate a claim that relationships between CT
and MDE are more complex and richer than is normally assumed for "applied
mathematics". CT provides a toolbox of design patterns and structural
principles of real practical value for MDE. We will present examples of how an
elementary categorical arrangement of a model management scenario reveals
deficiencies in the architecture of modern tools automating the scenario.Comment: In Proceedings ACCAT 2012, arXiv:1208.430
HeteroGenius: A Framework for Hybrid Analysis of Heterogeneous Software Specifications
Nowadays, software artifacts are ubiquitous in our lives being an essential
part of home appliances, cars, cell phones, and even in more critical
activities like aeronautics and health sciences. In this context software
failures may produce enormous losses, either economical or, in the worst case,
in human lives. Software analysis is an area in software engineering concerned
with the application of diverse techniques in order to prove the absence of
errors in software pieces. In many cases different analysis techniques are
applied by following specific methodological combinations that ensure better
results. These interactions between tools are usually carried out at the user
level and it is not supported by the tools. In this work we present
HeteroGenius, a framework conceived to develop tools that allow users to
perform hybrid analysis of heterogeneous software specifications.
HeteroGenius was designed prioritising the possibility of adding new
specification languages and analysis tools and enabling a synergic relation of
the techniques under a graphical interface satisfying several well-known
usability enhancement criteria. As a case-study we implemented the
functionality of Dynamite on top of HeteroGenius.Comment: In Proceedings LAFM 2013, arXiv:1401.056
Abstract State Machines 1988-1998: Commented ASM Bibliography
An annotated bibliography of papers which deal with or use Abstract State
Machines (ASMs), as of January 1998.Comment: Also maintained as a BibTeX file at http://www.eecs.umich.edu/gasm
Requirements modelling and formal analysis using graph operations
The increasing complexity of enterprise systems requires a more advanced
analysis of the representation of services expected than is currently possible.
Consequently, the specification stage, which could be facilitated by formal
verification, becomes very important to the system life-cycle. This paper presents
a formal modelling approach, which may be used in order to better represent
the reality of the system and to verify the awaited or existing system’s properties,
taking into account the environmental characteristics. For that, we firstly propose
a formalization process based upon properties specification, and secondly we
use Conceptual Graphs operations to develop reasoning mechanisms of verifying
requirements statements. The graphic visualization of these reasoning enables us
to correctly capture the system specifications by making it easier to determine if
desired properties hold. It is applied to the field of Enterprise modelling
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