Consistent Object-Oriented Modeling of System Dynamics with State-Based Collaboration Diagrams

This paper introduces the new state-based collaboration diagrams. This new diagram type will solve two problems: First it will lead to a consistent description of the reactive behavior of a system – second it will allow the simultaneous modeling of reactive and transformational system behavior. This new diagram type is an advantageous combination of two wellknown UML diagrams, namely of the interaction and of state diagrams. Whereas in UML interactions are covered by sequence as well as by collaboration diagrams, the reactive behavior is described by state charts. Interactions between objects, however, have transformational or reactive parts, respectively, depending on the fact, whether the response to an input of an object is state-dependent or not. Thus for describing reactive behavior state charts as well as interaction diagrams are necessary. By combining collaboration diagrams – sequence and collaboration diagrams are roughly spoken two equivalent forms of interaction diagrams – and state charts, the reactive behavior will be covered just by one and not by two different diagram types, namely by the state-based collaboration diagrams. Using just one view will help to avoid inconsistencies. Furthermore the reactive and transformational system aspects are modeled in the same diagram, too, which may significantly help in modeling a new system. The presented new diagram type can be successfully used in system analysis as well as in system design.