An inexact model matching approach and its applications
Matching between two model specifications is the key step of the repository-based model reuse. From the approximate specification point of view, this paper presents a quantified inexact matching theory for flexible model retrieval from large-scale model repositories. The theory specifies a model repository as two levels: a model level based on a multi-valued model specialization relationship and a fundamental function level based on a function specialization relationship. The matching degree between two models depends on their matching functions. The matching degree between two functions on a function specialization graph depends on the function-distance between them. A set of model specialization rules enables a new matching to be derived from the existing matchings. Embedded in an SQL-like command, the theory has been applied to a large-scale mathematical software model repository system. Users can use the command to retrieve the required models with an inexact query condition. Applications show that the approach is useful and tractable.
matching model reuse model repository inexact retrieval signature