A formal model for some behavioural features of analysis patterns

Abstract

It is commonly said that a pattern has four essential parts: a statement of the context where the pattern is useful, the problem that the pattern addresses, the forces that play in forming a solution, and the solution that resolves that forces. This form underlies many published patterns, including analysis patterns. They show a number of highly generic processes that cut across traditional boundaries of system development and business engineering. However, patterns are invariably described informally in the literature, generally using natural language together some sort of graphical notation. A formal model of the semantic statements of analysis patterns has been proposed by reusing some of the properties formalised for GoF patterns. In this paper, we present a formal model of some behavioural properties of analysis patterns, and we illustrate using an example how an instantiation can be done. We also briefly discuss future work which will extend the model to include more behavioural properties