Behavior-Modeling Techniques

August 1996 / International Features / Best CASE Scenario: Choosing OO Methods / Behavior-Modeling Techniques

Behavior modeling is the more complicated part of the design process with CASE tools. The majority of tools use one of the following techniques:
State-transition models treat each object as a state machine that can be in one of a number of possible states, and which external events can drive from one state to another.
Event-flow models describe the way that events flow between objects, in the form of charts with a time axis. These diagrams show the response of each object in the system to receiving a particular event at a particular time. A widely used event-flow notat ion is the Message Sequence Chart (MSC) defined by the ITU's Z120 standard.
Use cases and scenarios are textual descriptions of what the system is supposed to do from the point of view of a user (e.g., "Enter the customer ID, and the customer address appears in Form 1").
Responsibility-and-collaboration modeling describes the relations between objects in contractual terms; which groups of objects will collaborate and what tasks each is responsible for performing on behalf of the others.

Up to the International Features section contents

Go to previous article: Behavior-Modeling Techniques

Go to next article: Asian Internet Fever

Matthew Wilson
My approach to software engineering is far more pragmatic than it is theoretical--and no language better exemplifies this than C++.

more...

BYTE Digest editors every month analyze and evaluate the best articles from Information Week, EE Times, Dr. Dobb's Journal, Network Computing, Sys Admin, and dozens of other CMP publications—bringing you critical news and information about wireless communication, computer security, software development, embedded systems, and more!

Find out more

BYTE CD-ROM

NOW, on one CD-ROM, you can instantly access more than 8 years of BYTE.

The Best of BYTE
Volume 1: Programming Languages

In this issue of Best of BYTE, we bring together some of the leading programming language designers and implementors...

Copyright © 2005 CMP Media LLC, Privacy Policy, Your California Privacy rights, Terms of Service
Site comments: webmaster@byte.com
SDMG Web Sites: BYTE.com, C/C++ Users Journal, Dr. Dobb's Journal, MSDN Magazine, New Architect, SD Expo, SD Magazine, Sys Admin, The Perl Journal, UnixReview.com, Windows Developer Network