Patent Abstract:
A method and apparatus for authoring model-to-model transformations of programming models involving profiles is disclosed. Using a declarative mapping between a given profile of a subject programming model and a target profile of a target programming model, transformation of the given profile is specified and results in a declarative specification. Similarly the declarative mapping may be to a profile of a target programming model (without a corresponding source side profile) or from a profile of a source programming model (without a corresponding target side profile). Based on the declarative specification, a transformation code implementation (e.g. a transformation API) is generated. The given profile is specified as an input domain or as an output domain along with a meta model of the subject programming model. The generated transformation code implementation effectively handles complexities of dealing with the given profile at run time.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Model-driven architecture (MDA) is an approach to software development advocated by the Object Management Group (OMG). See A. Kleppe, J. Warmer and W. Bast, “MDA Explained: The Model Driven Architecture: Practice and Promise”, Addison-Wesley, Boston, Mass., 2003. It provides a set of guidelines for structuring software specifications in the form of models. The approach suggests describing a software system&#39;s specifications using a platform independent model (PIM). A PIM is usually specified in a language defined using the Meta Object Facility (MOF), a standard by the OMG for describing modeling languages. A prominent example of such a language is the Unified Modeling Language (UML), a general purpose modeling language that is well adopted by the software engineering community. Alternatives to UML also exist and are collectively referred to as Domain Specific Languages (DSL), as they are more specialized and target certain domains. See M. Mernik, J. Heering, and A. M. Sloane, “When and How to Develop Domain-Specific Languages.” ACM Computing Surveys, 37(4):316-344, 2005. 
         [0002]    Once a software system has been specified using a PIM, a platform is then chosen to realize it using specific implementation technologies, producing what is referred to as a platform specific model (PSM). A PSM can be specified using several domain specific languages. The process of going from (translating) a PIM to a PSM is called model-to-model transformation and can usually be automated. 
         [0003]    An alternative way to defining DSLs is through UML profiles. A UML Profile is a light-weight extensibility mechanism for UML. It contains a collection of stereotypes extending certain types from UML and adding properties to them. Unlike a heavy weight extension, which is done by extending the meta-model (an M2 level model), a profile is an M1-level extension. In this regard, extending M2 using M1 constructs, a profile is unique and presents interesting challenges to tool developers and users. 
         [0004]    The challenge for modeling tool is to allow users to work seamlessly with profiles and MOF-based DSLs. One kind of tool where this challenge presents itself is model to model transformation tools. A typical requirement here is to develop transformations from UML models with certain applied profiles to UML models with different applied profiles. Alternatively, the transformations could be from UML models with applied profiles to other MOF-based DSLs, or vice versa. For example transformations see: OMG, MOF QVT Final Adopted Specification,  OMG Documentptc/ 05-11-0; P. Swithinbank, M. Chessell, T. Gardner, C. Griffin, J. Man, H. Wylie and L. Yusuf, “Patterns: Model-Driven Development Using IBM Rational Software Architect (Section 9.5.2),”  IBM Redbooks  at www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg247105.pdf; R. Popma “JET Tutorial,” at www.eclipse.org/articles/Article-JET/jet_tutoriall.html; C. Griffin “IBM Model Transformation Framework 1.0.0: Programmer&#39;s Guide. 2004,” at www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/mtf, Fujaba Tool Suite 4, University of Paderborn Software Engineering, www.fujaba.de; G. Taentzer “AGG: A Graph Transformation Environment for Modeling and Validation of Software.”  Application of Graph Transformations with Industrial Relevance  ( AGTIVE&#39; 03)    3062   , pp. 446-453 (2003). These and most transformation approaches today, either do not attempt to solve this problem or leave it to the user to deal with it. However, given the fact that profile implementations are almost always different from those of DSLs, users are faced with steep learning curves and a lot of complexities coming from dealing with two different meta-level constructs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention addresses the short comings and foregoing problems of the prior art. The main idea of the invention is to specify transformations involving UML profiles declaratively using meta-model mapping, in a consistent way to regular DSL mapping, then use a transformation from that specification to generate an imperative transformation implementation that hides the complexity of dealing with profiles at runtime. The approach is implemented as an extension to the Model Transformation Authoring Framework (MTAF) by allowing profiles to be specified as an input and/or output domain along with the UML2 meta-model. Further details on MTAF are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorneys Docket number CAM9-2007-0204) for “Computer Method and Apparatus for Providing Model to Model Transformation Using an MDA Approach” by assignee, as well as in IMB Rational Software Architect Version 7.0, both herein incorporated by reference. 
         [0006]    Once a profile is specified as a domain, mappings can be created between hybrid types consisting of UML types stereotyped with one or more stereotypes from those profiles. The properties of those stereotypes, along with properties from the UML type, then become available for mapping in a similar way. Profiles can also contain types in addition to stereotypes. Those types can also be mapped in a similar way to DSL types. 
         [0007]    All the basic mapping rules, provided by MTAF, are used without change in the declarative specification. However, the imperative implementations of those rules are extended to become aware of UML profiles. Since MTAF provides a transformation between the declarative specification and its implementation, the details can be hidden from the user satisfying the requirement described in the problem statement. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, a system and method for providing and/or authoring model-to-model transformation of programming models involving profiles, comprises the steps of: 
         [0009]    using a declarative mapping between domains that can have one or more profiles applied on a source side and/or a target side, specifying transformation of profiles and resulting in a declarative specification; and 
         [0010]    generating a transformation code implementation based on the declarative specification including allowing a given profile to be specified as an input domain or as an output domain along with a meta model of a subject programming model. The generated transformation code implementation effectively handles complexities of dealing with the given profile at run time. The generated transformation code implementation is provided as a MTAF API. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the declarative specification further forms hybrid types from types in the target side and stereotypes from one or more profiles; and the declarative specification creates mappings from/to those hybrid types on the fly including the properties of both the mapped type and the stereotypes. 
         [0012]    With the present invention, a profile can be on the source side or target side of a transformation mapping process. It is not a requirement to have profiles on both sides (i.e., the invention is not limited to profile-to-profile mapping) but is flexible enough that a profile can be specified along with the UML metamodel if the profile is specified as source and/or target of a mapping. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a declarative mapping from a domain specific language model (input domain meta model) to a transformation API (output domain meta model) in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the UML2 profile semantics. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a new domain type extending the UML type and stereotypes according to principles of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of an input domain meta model and output domain meta model in an example of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a ModelToRoot mapping declaration in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a PackageToProject mapping declaration in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a PackageToPackage mapping declaration in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of the ClassToBean mapping declaration in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram of a PropertyToAttribute mapping declaration in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view of a computer network environment in which embodiments of the present invention are implemented. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a block diagram of a computer node in the computer network of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    A description of example embodiments of the invention follows. 
         [0026]    In a preferred embodiment, applicants use the MTAF framework to provide the ability to author transformations between input and output Ecore-based DSLs. Ecore-based DLSs are further detailed in F. Budinsky, D. Steinberg, T. Grose, S. Brodsky and E. Merks, “Eclipse Modeling Framework”, Pearson Education, August 2003, herein incorporated by reference. More generally, the first step in the invention authoring process is to map the input domain meta-model and the output domain meta-model DSLs using a declarative mapping DSL  27 . One such declarative mapping DSL  27  is provided by MTAF as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The result of the first step is a mapping model (transformation specification)  25  that specifies how the input domain DSLs relate to the output domain DSLs. 
         [0027]    The second step in the invention authoring process is to generate an imperative transformation implementation using a framework API provided by MTAF. The mapping between the formed transformation specification  25  and the corresponding code implementation (transformation API  29 ), shown in  FIG. 1 , is implemented as a JET (JAVA Emitter Template) model-to-text transform in one embodiment. 
         [0028]    In particular the mapping root  24  translates and corresponds to a RootTransformation  30 . The mapping declaration  27  translates to a MapTransform  28  construct in the transformation API  29 . That is, move mapping  10 , CustomMapping  12  and SubmapMapping  14  elements of the MappingDeclaration  27  correspond to a MoveRule  20 , CustomRule  16  and SubmapExtractor  18  respectively of the transformation API  29 . Similar correspondence of Subelements of these elements and other correspondences are further discussed below. 
         [0029]    The present invention extends the MTAF to support the transformation to/from UML profiles whose semantics are shown in  FIG. 2 . By way of background the modeling architecture for UML2 can be viewed using a four layer metamodel hierarchy. These layers provide for the meta-metamodel (e.g. infrastructure library), the metamodel (UML2), the user model (the model defined in the user&#39;s problem domain), and the application layer (the layer of user code that exploits the model they have defined). For reference, the following Table 1 outlines the four level meta-model hierarchy, including a description of each level and an example of the information found at each level: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Four-Level Metamodel Hierarchy 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Level 
                 Description 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 M3 
                 Meta-metamodel 
                 Instances of ECore 
               
               
                   
                 Applicants solution uses ECore but there are other frameworks 
                 EPackage, EClass, 
               
               
                   
                 as well. 
                 EAttribute, EReference 
               
               
                   
                 The model used to define meta-models 
               
               
                   
                 Forms the foundation of the metamodeling hierarchy providing 
               
               
                   
                 the basic work units for the meta model. 
               
               
                 M2 
                 UML 2 meta-model 
                 Instances of ECore 
               
               
                   
                 Every element in the meta-model is an instance of an element in 
                 Package, Class, Property, 
               
               
                   
                 the meta-metamodel. 
                 Association 
               
               
                   
                 Defines a language for specifying models 
               
               
                 M1 
                 User model 
                 Instances of UML2 elements 
               
               
                   
                 An instance of the metamodel. 
                 MyClass, Date, etc. 
               
               
                   
                 allows users to define their problem domain 
               
               
                 M0 
                 Run-time instances 
                 Instances of User model 
               
               
                   
                 contains run-time instances of model elements 
                 myClass, date, etc. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0030]    In general, a UML “profile” is a type of package  19  and is formed of (or has) a collection of stereotypes  13 . A stereotype  13  is a type of class  15  (in the object oriented programming sense) and has zero or more properties  17 . A typical example UML2 profile contains a stereotype that extends a metaclass. Illustrated in  FIG. 2  is an example Profile  11  consisting of a stereotype extension  13  to the UML2 metaclass “Class”  15 . The illustrated stereotype “Stereotype”  13  adds new properties (generally  17 ) to the metaclass “Class”  15 . 
         [0031]    In terms of how the UML2 models this example, the diagram shown in  FIG. 2  details the semantic structure of the stereotype definition. Stereotype  13  is diagrammed as an extension  21  and as having “owned” attributes  23 . Although the stereotype  13  is at the M1 level (see Table 1), it is diagrammed as extending M2 classes. 
         [0032]    Returning to the present invention, first, the extensions related to the declarative mapping DSL  25  are discussed. Basically, one or more UML Profiles  11  are allowed to be input domains or output domains to a MappingRoot  24  ( FIG. 1 ). However, since a profile  11  is an extension to the UML meta-model, that meta-model has to also be specified as a domain in the same side as the Profile  11 . 
         [0033]    Once a profile  11  is specified as a domain, the profile is converted on-the-fly from an M1 instance to an M2 instance using a UML-&gt;Ecore transformation provided in UML2: EMF-based UML 2.0 Metamodel Implementaion at www.eclipse.org/uml2. The resulting Ecore model  29  representing the profile  11  is used instead by the mapping editor in the declarative specification  25 . The details are discussed next. 
         [0034]    Profiles  11  have a collection of Classes  15  and Stereotypes  13 , which are allowed to be input domains and output domains of MappingDeclarations  27 . While a profile Class  15  can directly be an input domain or an output domain of a MappingDeclaration  27 , a profile Stereotype  13  can be specified as a domain only if a type (from UML) that is extended by this Stereotype  13  is also specified as a domain in the same side. One or more applicable stereotypes  13  (from the same or different profiles  11 ) can be specified at the same time for the same type as a domain. In this case, a new M2 type is created on the fly to represent this domain. The new type multi-inherits both the UML type  31  and all the stereotypes  13   a, . . . n  (in their M2 representation).  FIG. 3  shows the new resulting domain type  35 . 
         [0035]    The subject Profile Classes  15  and Stereotypes  13  have attributes of type Property  17 , which get converted to EStructuralFeatures. These features are allowed to be input domains and output domains for the various kinds of mappings that can be nested in a MappingDeclaration  27  in a similar way to regular EStructuralFeatures coming from a type in a DSL. In case of a domain with stereotypes  13 , the newly created domain type  35  multi-inherits all the features coming from the base UML type  31  and all the stereotypes  13 , exposing the stereotype&#39;s properties  17  for mapping. 
         [0036]    The present invention second extension to MTAF, related to UML profiles  11 , include specific extensions to the provided imperative transformation API  29 . For example, a special subtype of the ‘accept’ Condition  22  for MapTransform  28  rules  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  26  is provided to additionally check for applied stereotypes on UML elements if the input domains of the transform include stereotypes  13 . An input mapping element  10 ,  12 ,  14  passes the condition  32  only if all the input domain stereotypes  13  are applied to it. Also, a special subtype of CreateRule  26  is provided to apply stereotypes  13  to the created UML elements if the output domains include those stereotypes. If the output domain contains instead a profile-defined type, the rule also knows how to create instances of that type. Finally, special subtypes of MoveRule  20  and SubmapExtractor  18  are provided to provide access to corresponding/respective profile-defined input and output domain properties (mapped from condition refinements  34   a, b, c  to conditions  36   a, b, c ) namely a stereotype&#39;s properties and a profile type&#39;s properties. 
         [0037]    Exemplification 
         [0038]    The example of  FIG. 4  demonstrates a typical transformation mapping between a high level DSL (UML2+Bean Profile), used to capture a design, and a low level DSL (BeanCodeGenerator) used for java beans code generation. This example illustrates the present invention  100  features using the tooling provided by MTAF to specify a model to model transformation involving profiles. 
         [0039]    MTAF provides an Eclipse-based mapping editor that allows for choosing the input and output DSLs as domains of a MappingRoot  24 . In the example, the input DSLs (input domain meta models)  41  are UML2+Bean Profile, generally at  42 ,  13   a ,  15 ,  17  while the output DSL (output domain meta model)  43  is BeanCodeGenerator. Five declarations are then identified: 
         [0040]    ModelToRoot. This mapping, shown in  FIG. 5 , is from Model EClass  42  of UML2 to Root EClass  44  of BeanCodeGenerator. The input domain meta model name is mapped to the output domain meta model name using a CustomMapping  12  with the custom Java code: ‘Root_tgt.setName(“Beans “+Model_src.getName( ));’. Also, the input&#39;s packagedElement  40  is mapped to the output&#39;s project  360  using a SubmapMapping  14  with reference to the ‘PackageToProject’ declaration of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0041]    PackageToProject. This mapping, shown in  FIG. 6 , is from Package EClass  46  of UML2, with the beanproject Stereotype  48 , to Project EClass  45  of BeanCodeGenerator. The input&#39;s name is mapped to the output&#39;s name using a MoveMapping  10 . The input&#39;s basepackage  17   a  (a stereotype property) is mapped to the output&#39;s basepackage  17   b  using a MoveMapping  10 . Finally, the input&#39;s packagedElement  40  is mapped to the output&#39;s package  402  using a SubmapMapping  14  with reference to the ‘PackageToPackage’ declaration of  FIG. 7 . 
         [0042]    PackageToPackage. This mapping, shown in  FIG. 7 , is from Package EClass  46  of UML2 to Package EClass  47  of BeanCodeGenerator. The input&#39;s name is mapped to the output&#39;s name using a MoveMapping  10 . The input&#39;s packagedElement  40  is mapped to the output&#39;s bean  49  using a SubmapMapping  14  with reference to the ‘ClassToBean’ declaration ( FIG. 8 ). Also, the input&#39;s packagedElement  40  is mapped to the output&#39;s export  37  using a SubmapMapping  14  with reference to the ‘ClassToBean’ declaration. However, this last mapping has the following refinements  34 : an ‘accept’ Condition  22  with the OCL expression ‘Package_src.visibility=Visibility.Public’, an ‘inputFilter’  36   a  with the OCL expression ‘packagedElement_src.visibility=Visibility. Public’, and an ‘outputFilter’  36   b  with the Java code ‘return !export_tgt.get Attribue( ).isEmpty( );’. 
         [0043]    ClassToBean. This mapping, shown in  FIG. 8 , is from Class EClass  15  of UML2, with the bean Stereotype  13   a , to Bean EClass  38  of BeanCodeGenerator. The input&#39;s name is mapped to the output&#39;s name using a MoveMapping  10 . The input&#39;s ownedAttribute  23  is mapped to the output&#39;s attribute  39  using a SubmapMapping  14  with reference to the ‘PropertyToAttribute’ declaration of  FIG. 9 . The last mapping has a custom ‘extractor’  36   c  with Java code ‘return Utils.getAllAttributes(Class_src);’. 
         [0044]    PropertyToAttribute. This mapping, shown in  FIG. 9 , is from Property EClass  17  of UML2 to Attribute EClass  401  of BeanCodeGenerator. The input&#39;s name is mapped to the output&#39;s name using a MoveMapping  10 . The input EClass is mapped to the output&#39;s kind using a CustomMapping  12  with the custom Java code: ‘Attribute_tgt.setKind (Property_src.getUpper( )&gt;1||Property_src.getUpp er( )==−1)?“LIST”:“FIELD”);’. The input type is mapped to the output&#39;s type using a CustomMapping  12  with the custom Java code: ‘Attribute_tgt.setType (Property_src. getType( ).getName( ));’. 
         [0045]      FIG. 10  illustrates a computer network or similar digital processing environment in which the present invention may be implemented. 
         [0046]    Client computer(s)  50  and server computer(s)  60  provide processing, storage, and input/output devices executing application programs and the like. Client computer(s)  50  can also be linked through communications network  70  to other computing devices, including other client devices/processes  50  and server computer(s)  60 . Communications network  70  can be part of a remote access network, a global network (e.g., the Internet), a worldwide collection of computers, Local area or Wide area networks, and gateways that currently use respective protocols (TCP/IP, Bluetooth, etc.) to communicate with one another. Other electronic device/computer network architectures are suitable. 
         [0047]      FIG. 11  is a diagram of the internal structure of a computer (e.g., client processor  50  or server computers  60 ) in the computer system of  FIG. 10 . Each computer  50 ,  60  contains system bus  79 , where a bus is a set of hardware lines used for data transfer among the components of a computer or processing system. Bus  79  is essentially a shared conduit that connects different elements of a computer system (e.g., processor, disk storage, memory, input/output ports, network ports, etc.) that enables the transfer of information between the elements. Attached to system bus  79  is I/O device interface  82  for connecting various input and output devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, displays, printers, speakers, etc.) to the computer  50 ,  60 . Network interface  86  allows the computer to connect to various other devices attached to a network (e.g., network  70  of  FIG. 10 ). Memory  90  provides volatile storage for computer software instructions  92  and data  94  used to implement an embodiment of the present invention (e.g., transformation authoring system and tool  100 , declarative mapping  27 , mapping model/specification  25 , transformation API  29  and supporting method/ process detailed above in  FIGS. 1-9 ). Disk storage  95  provides non-volatile storage for computer software instructions  92  and data  94  used to implement an embodiment of the present invention. Central processor unit  84  is also attached to system bus  79  and provides for the execution of computer instructions. 
         [0048]    In one embodiment, the processor routines  92  and data  94  are a computer program product (generally referenced  92 ), including a computer readable medium (e.g., a removable storage medium such as one or more DVD-ROM&#39;s, CD-ROM&#39;s, diskettes, tapes, etc.) that provides at least a portion of the software instructions for the invention system. Computer program product  92  can be installed by any suitable software installation procedure, as is well known in the art. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the software instructions may also be downloaded over a cable, communication and/or wireless connection. In other embodiments, the invention programs are a computer program propagated signal product  107  embodied on a propagated signal on a propagation medium (e.g., a radio wave, an infrared wave, a laser wave, a sound wave, or an electrical wave propagated over a global network such as the Internet, or other network(s)). Such carrier medium or signals provide at least a portion of the software instructions for the present invention routines/program  92 . 
         [0049]    In alternate embodiments, the propagated signal is an analog carrier wave or digital signal carried on the propagated medium. For example, the propagated signal may be a digitized signal propagated over a global network (e.g., the Internet), a telecommunications network, or other network. In one embodiment, the propagated signal is a signal that is transmitted over the propagation medium over a period of time, such as the instructions for a software application sent in packets over a network over a period of milliseconds, seconds, minutes, or longer. In another embodiment, the computer readable medium of computer program product  92  is a propagation medium that the computer system  50  may receive and read, such as by receiving the propagation medium and identifying a propagated signal embodied in the propagation medium, as described above for computer program propagated signal product. 
         [0050]    Generally speaking, the term “carrier medium” or transient carrier encompasses the foregoing transient signals, propagated signals, propagated medium, storage medium and the like. 
         [0051]    While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims. 
         [0052]    For example, the present invention may be implemented in a variety of computer architectures. The computer network of  FIGS. 10 and 11  are for purposes of illustration and not limitation of the present invention. 
         [0053]    The invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, etc. 
         [0054]    Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
         [0055]    The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6