The paper listed below outlines an approach to addressing these needs. The paper is available for Web access, or postscript may be downloaded. The OMG's principal aims of widespread re-use and interoperability cannot be realized without precise, abstract behavioral definitions of interfaces and architectures. Since specification constructs will vary, any solution must be flexible enough to permit a component to be selected based only on those parts of its specifications that a search tool understands.
Theories build upon each other by import.
Everything from OOA modeling constructs, down to the nature of objects and basic ideas of logic is expressed in the theory heirarchy, rather than built into the notation itself. Every trait is asserted within the context of a theory containing everything that must be understood to make complete sense of it. To switch from one notation to another, substitute a different theory of objects. Systematic translations from one theory to another can be defined. The same location also has a detailed description of the Catalysis method.