Tony Clark

The Metamodelling Language Calculus: Foundation Semantics for UML

The Metamodelling Language (MML) is a sub-set of the Unified Modeling Language (UML) that is proposed as the core language used to bootstrap the UML 2.0 definition initiative. Since it is meta-circular, MML requires an external formal semantics in order to ground it. This paper defines the MML Calculus which is used to formally define MML and therefore provides a semantic basis for UML 2.0.

Object Modeling with the OCL

With the move towards UML becoming a family of modelling languages, there is a need to view the Object Constraint Language in the same light. The aim of this paper is to identify a meta-modelling facility that encompasses the specification of the semantics of a family of object constraint languages. This facility defines a common set of model concepts, semantic domain concepts and semantic mappings that can be conveniently reused when constructing new family members.

Engineering Modelling Languages: A Precise Meta-Modelling Approach

MMF uses meta-modelling techniques to precisely define modelling languages. The approach employs novel technology based on package specialisation and templates. MMF is being applied to the UML 2.0 revision initiative and is supported by a tool.

Engineering context-aware systems and applications

Survey the efforts of the community in order to encourage a Context-Aware Systems Engineering process.Analysis of the state-of-the-art engineering techniques applied in the most common development stages.A study of existing methodologies within these development stages.The main challenges remaining open in the Context-Aware Computing field. Context-awareness is an essential component of systems developed in areas like Intelligent Environments, Pervasive & Ubiquitous Computing and Ambient Intelligence. In these emerging fields, there is a need for computerized systems to have a higher understanding of the situations in which to provide services or functionalities, to adapt accordingly. The literature shows that researchers modify existing engineering methods in order to better fit the needs of context-aware computing. These efforts are typically disconnected from each other and generally focus on solving specific development issues. We encourage the creation of a more holistic and unified engineering process that is tailored for the demands of these systems. For this purpose, we study the state-of-the-art in the development of context-aware systems, focusing on: (A) Methodologies for developing context-aware systems, analyzing the reasons behind their lack of adoption and features that the community wish they can use; (B) Context-aware system engineering challenges and techniques applied during the most common development stages; (C) Context-aware systems conceptualization.

Aspect-oriented metamodelling.

The Object Management Groups (OMG) Model Driven Architecture (MDA) strategy envisages a world where models play a more direct role in software pro- duction. To ensure that the burden of maintaining more than one formal model does not outweigh the potential bene�ts, powerful tool support is required. How- ever, each domain, organisation, even project, is likely to need its own particular process supported by its own particular con�guration of modelling languages. The challenge is to provide de�nitions of languages that not only support the con�g- uration and extension of those languages for use with particular processes, but also can be used directly in the customisation/generation of tools. This paper de- scribes an aspect-oriented, metamodelling approach to language de�nition which aims to meet this challenge. This exploits two mechanisms (package extension and package templates), which are similar to mechanisms proposed to support aspect-oriented design with UML. Thus the paper can also be viewed as describ- ing a case study in aspect oriented design. The approach is illustrated by extracts from the 2U submission to the UML 2.0 RFPs issued by the OMG in 2001. The paper concludes with a discussion on the customisation and generation of tools from such de�nitions.

LEAP: a precise lightweight framework for enterprise architecture

This paper proposes LEAP, a simple framework for Enterprise Architecture (EA) that views an organization as an engine that executes in terms of hierarchically decomposed communicating components. The approach allows all aspects of the architecture to be precisely defined using standard modelling notations. Given that the approach is simple and precisely defined it can form the basis for a wide range of EA analysis techniques including simulation, compliance and consistency checking. The paper defines the LEAP framework and shows that it can be used to represent the key features of ArchiMate whilst containing fewer orthogonal concepts. We also show that the precision of LEAP, achieved through the use of OCL, can be used to verify both the claims made for inter-layer relationships in EA models and for extensions to ArchiMate.

An extensible, self contained, layered approach to context acquisition

Smart phones show increasing capabilities for context-aware applications. The development of such applications involves implementation of mechanisms for context acquisition and context adaptation. To facilitate efficient use of the devices resources and avoid monitoring the same context changes from multiple points, it is necessary that applications share the context acquisition mechanism. In this paper, we intend to develop a generic context acquisition engine which is capable of context capturing, composition and broadcasting. By deploying the engine on a mobile device, context changes are monitored from single point and disseminated to various context aware applications running on the same device. As a proof of concept, the context acquisition engine has been implemented on the Android platform.

A Method for Enterprise Architecture Alignment

Business and ICT strategic alignment remains an ongoing challenge facing organizations as they react to changing requirements by adapting or introducing new technologies to existing infrastructure. Enterprise Architecture (EA) has increasingly become relevant to these demands and as a consequence numerous methods and frameworks have emerged. However these approaches remain bloated, time-consuming and lacking in precision. This paper proposes a light-weight method for EA called LEAP and introduces a language for EA simulation that is illustrated with a detailed case study of business change currently being addressed by UK higher education institutions.

Exploiting model driven technology: a tale of two startups

This article describes the experiences of two independent start-up companies that were created in the white-heat of the early days of model-based engineering. Each company aimed to revolutionise software development by raising the level of abstraction through modelling. The article describes the context, technical innovations, business experiences, demise and lessons learned by each company.

MobDSL: A Domain Specific Language for multiple mobile platform deployment

There is increasing interest in establishing a presence in the mobile application market, with platforms including Apple iPhone, Google Android and Microsoft Windows Mobile. Because of the differences in platform languages, frameworks, and device hardware, development of an application for more than one platform can be a difficult task. In this paper we address this problem by the creation of a mobile Domain Specific Language (DSL). Domain analysis was carried out using two case studies, inferring basic requirements of the language. The paper further introduces the language calculus definition and provides discussion how it fits the domain analysis, and any issues found in our approach.