Edgars Rencis

Transformation of UML Models to CSP: A Case Study for Graph Transformation Tools

Graph transformation provides an intuitive mechanism for capturing model transformations. In the current paper, we investigate and compare various graph transformation tools using a compact practical model transformation case study carried out as part of the AGTIVE 2007 Tool Contest [22]. The aim of this case study is to generate formal CSP processes from high-level UML activity diagrams, which enables to carry out mathematical analysis of the system under design.

Model transformation languages and their implementation by bootstrapping method

In this paper a sequence of model transformation languages L0, L1, L2 is defined. The first language L0 is very simple, and for this language it is easy to build an efficient compiler to C++. The next language L1 is an extension of L0, and it contains powerful pattern definition facilities. The last language L2 is of sufficiently high level and can be used for implementation of traditional pattern-based high level model transformation languages, as well as for the development of model transformations directly. For languages L1 and L2 efficient compilers have been built using the bootstrapping method: L1 to L0 in L0, and L2 to L1 in L1. The results confirm the efficiency of model transformation approach for domain specific compiler building.

Towards Open Graphical Tool-Building Framework

Towards Open Graphical Tool-Building Framework Nowadays, there are many frameworks for developing domain-specific tools. However, if we want to create a really sophisticated tool with specific functionality requirements, it is not always an easy task to do. Although tool-building platforms offer some means for extending the tool functionality and accessing it from external applications, it usually requires a deep understanding of various technical implementation details. In this paper we try to go one step closer to a really open graphical tool-building framework that would allow both to change the behavior of the tool and to access the tool from the outside easily. We start by defining a specialization of metamodels which is a great and powerful facility itself. Then we go on and show how this can be applied in the field of graphical domain-specific tool building. The approach is demonstrated on an example of a subset of UML activity diagrams. The benefits of the approach are also clearly indicated. These include a natural and intuitive definition of tools, a strict logic/presentation separation and the openness for extensions as well as for external applications.

Self-service Ad-hoc Querying Using Controlled Natural Language

The ad-hoc querying process is slow and error prone due to inability of business experts of accessing data directly without involving IT experts. The problem lies in complexity of means used to query data. We propose a new natural language- and semistar ontology-based ad-hoc querying approach which lowers the steep learning curve required to be able to query data. The proposed approach would significantly shorten the time needed to master the ad-hoc querying and to gain the direct access to data by business experts, thus facilitating the decision making process in enterprises, government institutions and other organizations.

Modeling and query language for hospitals

So far the traditional process modeling languages have found a limited use in the hospital settings. One of the reasons behind this delay has been the lack of clear definition of the sequence of activities that are carried out in the hospital. We propose a new modeling language (as a profile of UML Class diagrams) that captures all the useful features from various UML diagrams and can be used in modeling of the hospitals. Based on the modeling language, we have developed an easy-to-perceive graphical query language, which allows the physicians to retrieve directly from the various hospital databases information they need to better understand the flow of clinical processes.

Architecture and Language for Semantic Reduction of Domain-Specific Models in BPMS

Nowadays each business process management system (BPMS) supports either an industry standard or its own specific modeling language. But no BPMS supports a specific language for each organization. We propose an architecture for building BPMS that allows creating a domain-specific modeling language for every client easily. The main problem is to bridge the gap between the domain-specific language and the executable language. We show that we can look at this problem as a classification of the domain-specific language constructs in the terms of the executable language. To solve this problem we present a novel model transformation language, with which this type of problem can be solved more naturally than with existing transformation languages.

Towards a natural language-based interface for querying hospital data

There is a growing necessity in various domains for non-programmers to be able to retrieve information gathered about the operation of the organization and stored in its databases. This information could hugely benefit the decision making process of the managers of the institution, but it is not often exploited due to the complexity of extracting the information from the existing data. In this paper we sketch a way how that information could be managed by the domain experts themselves by the means of a natural language-based query language that works upon data stored in the ontology. Our experiments show that the proposed approach is indeed easy-to-use by our target end-users - managers and physicians of hospitals -, because lacking technical details the query language is very intuitive to use.

Facilitation of Health Professionals Responsible Autonomy with Easy-to-Use Hospital Data Querying Language.

Support for the development of responsible autonomy as opposite to management that is based on direct control is found to be by far more effective approach in healthcare management, especially when it concerns physicians as the most influential group of health professionals. It is therefore important to obtain a process-oriented knowledge system where physicians would be able to autonomously answer questions which are outside the scope of pre-made direct control reports. However, the ad-hoc data querying process is slow and error-prone due to inability of health professionals to access data directly without involving IT experts. The problem lies in the complexity of means used to query data. We propose a new natural language- and semistar ontology-based ad-hoc data querying approach which reduces the steep learning curve required to be able to query data. The proposed approach would significantly decrease the time needed to master the ad-hoc data querying thus allowing health professionals an independent exploration of the data.

Graphical modeling and query language for hospitals

BackgroundSo far there has been little evidence that implementation of the health information technologies (HIT) is leading to health care cost savings. One of the reasons for this lack of impact by the HIT likely lies in the complexity of the business process ownership in the hospitals. The goal of our research is to develop a business model-based method for hospital use which would allow doctors to retrieve directly the ad-hoc information from various hospital databases.MethodsWe have developed a special domain-specific process modelling language called the MedMod. Formally, we define the MedMod language as a profile on UML Class diagrams, but we also demonstrate it on examples, where we explain the semantics of all its elements informally. Moreover, we have developed the Process Query Language (PQL) that is based on MedMod process definition language. The purpose of PQL is to allow a doctor querying (filtering) runtime data of hospital’s processes described using MedMod.ResultsThe MedMod language tries to overcome deficiencies in existing process modeling languages, allowing to specify the loosely-defined sequence of the steps to be performed in the clinical process.The main advantages of PQL are in two main areas – usability and efficiency. They are: 1) the view on data through “glasses” of familiar process, 2) the simple and easy-to-perceive means of setting filtering conditions require no more expertise than using spreadsheet applications, 3) the dynamic response to each step in construction of the complete query that shortens the learning curve greatly and reduces the error rate, and 4) the selected means of filtering and data retrieving allows to execute queries in O(n) time regarding the size of the dataset.ConclusionsWe are about to continue developing this project with three further steps. First, we are planning to develop user-friendly graphical editors for the MedMod process modeling and query languages. The second step is to do evaluation of usability the proposed language and tool involving the physicians from several hospitals in Latvia and working with real data from these hospitals. Our third step is to develop an efficient implementation of the query language.