Heiko Kern

Towards a comparative analysis of meta-metamodels

A cornerstone in Domain-Specific Modeling is the definition of modeling languages. A widely used method to formalize domain-specific languages is the metamodeling approach. There are a huge number of metamodeling languages. The choice of a suitable metamodeling approach is a challenging task because there is often a lack of knowledge about the selection criteria and the offered metamodeling features. In this paper, we analyze a set of metamodeling languages (ARIS, Ecore, GME, GOPPRR, MS DSL Tools, and MS Visio), define a comparison framework, and compare the selected meta-metamodels. The comparison forms a first foundation for solving the selection problem.

Business Process Modelling with Continuous Validation

In this paper, we demonstrate the prototype of a modelling tool that applies graph-based rules for identifying problems in business process models. The advantages of our approach are twofold. Firstly, it is not necessary to compute the complete state space of the model in order to find errors. Secondly, our technique can even be applied to incomplete business process models. Thus, the modeller can be supported by direct feedback during the model construction. This feedback does not only report problems, but it also identifies their reasons and makes suggestions for improvements.

Ansatz zur ganzheitlichen Erstellung und Verarbeitung von Dienstleistungsmodellen

Obgleich die Notwendigkeit einer Dienstleistungsmodellierung ausreichend anerkannt ist, wird ein Fehlen einer ganzheitlichen Modellierungsmethode weiterhin bemangelt. Einen Grund fur dieses Fehlen sehen die Autoren darin, dass bei der Erstellung von Dienstleistungsmodellen die Metamodellebenen oftmals nicht klar genug getrennt werden. Eine solche Trennung kann zu einer wesentlichen Verbesserung der Ergebnisse bei Forschungsbemuhungen in der Domane der Dienstleistungsmodellierung fuhren. Gleichzeitig impliziert eine Betrachtung von Metamodellebenen die Notwendigkeit der Interoperabilitat auf der Ebene der Metametamodelle. Dieser Beitrag legt die Grunde fur die Notwendigkeit einer klaren Betrachtung der Metamodellierungsebenen dar und zeigt die Moglichkeit eines Mappings auf der Ebene der Metametamodelle als elementares Gestaltungselement einer ganzheitlichen Modellierungsmethode auf.

Study of Interoperability between meta-modeling tools

Modeling is a fundamental concept in software engineering and other system development disciplines. Nowadays the modeling process is supported by powerful modeling tools. Generally speaking, tools which support the definition and usage of self-defined languages are called meta-modeling tools. An important requirement for meta-modeling tools is the interoperability among each other. For instance, interoperability helps to build complex tool chains covering the whole development process. Furthermore, interoperability can also avoid the vendor lock-in effect. Thus, interoperability facilitates the replacement of a tool by a new tool better fitting the customer needs. The objective of this paper is to investigate the current status of interoperability between meta-modeling tools. In more detail, we study the degree of model exchange between meta-modeling tools and look for typical exchange approaches. The study focuses on meta-modeling tools and approaches which are being used in practice or the real world, respectively.

An agent-based simulation of payment behavior in e-commerce

The optimal configuration of an online store is a challenging task. Nowadays store managers decide on basis of their expert knowledge. This decision making is insufficient because their choices are often nontransparent and the effects of their decisions are difficult to predict. An example of this problem is the optimal configuration of payment methods that should be offered in an online store. In this paper, we focus on the problem of payment method configuration. We present an agent-based simulation that enables the simulation of the customers payment behavior in order to support the decision-making process of store managers. We validate this simulation model by using data from real online stores and discuss the simulation results.

Mapping-Based Exchange of Models Between Meta-Modeling Tools

The exchange of models between meta-modeling tools is an important requirement. Tools often only cover a certain task in the development process. The exchange of models between different tools is necessary for covering a complete development process. Besides the aspect of cooperation, exchange of models also enables the replacement of old tools by new tools that better fit the customers needs. In order to avoid the vendor lock-in effect, model exchange allows the reuse of existing models. In this paper, we focus on the problem of model exchange and present an mapping-based approach between different meta-modeling tools. The approach is centered around a declarative mapping language with a graphical notation and a solution for connecting different meta-modeling tools. We apply our approach to exchange models between MetaEdit+ and Microsoft Visio.

A Business Process Modelling Tool with Continuous Validation Support

In this article, we want to present the prototype of a modelling tool that applies graph-based rules for identifying problems in business process models. The advantage of our approach is twofold. Firstly, it is unnecessary to compute the complete state space of the model in order to find errors. Secondly, our technique can be applied to incomplete business process models. Thus, the modeller can be supported by direct feedback during the model construction. This feedback does not only report problems, but it also identifies their reasons and makes suggestions for improvement.

Reuse of Rules in a Mapping-Based Integration Tool

In the Internet of Things scenario, the integration of devices with business application systems requires bridging the differences in schemas of transmitted and received data. Further, different device configuration may introduce a variety in a data schema of a single device. Currently, mitigating this schema variation problem requires a manual adaptation of data transformations between the devices and business application systems. In this paper, we propose an algorithm that uses previously created transformations to automatically adjust the new ones for schema variations. The algorithm only considers isolated schema element information in order to find possible candidates in a transformation repository. Schema elements can be compared using multiple comparators, and the result is combined in a final similarity metric. Both, the algorithm and the repository are implemented as a module of AnyMap – a mapping-based integration tool. We also present a case study on which we evaluated the approach.

2 nd Workshop on Graphical Modeling Language Development

This paper describes the 2nd Workshop on Graphical Modeling Language Development, held at ECMFA 2013.