Use Case from the ODP Viewpoint

Joaquin Miller
2005 Journal of Object Technology  
Discussion of use cases and UML often focuses on the UML use case diagram. Use case diagrams are contrasted (usually unfavorably) with text use cases. But specification of use cases with UML is not limited to the use case diagram. In fact UML 2 includes a variety of expressive techniques for specifying a use case. This article looks at UML use cases from the ODP viewpoint, and describes UML use case specification techniques in ODP terms. USE CASE FROM THE ODP VIEWPOINT 110 J OURNAL OF OBJECT
more » ... HNOLOGY V OL. 4, NO. 6 representing the system fulfills the subject role. Objects in the environment of the system fulfill the actor roles. The objective of that community is the observable result of value of that use case (the value to one or more of the actors of that use case). This explains "the key concepts associated with use cases ... actors, use cases, and ... subject." [16.1] References of this form are to sections of the UML 2.0 Superstructure Specification. See reference [UML2] . This is a reference to section 16.1 of the specification. As in the preceeding quotation, when it suits my didactic purpose, I will take the liberty of deleting portions of text quoted from the UML 2 specification. "The enterprise language uses concepts taken from [Part 2], and introduces refinements of those concepts, prescriptive rules and additional viewpoint-specific concepts..." Enterprise language concepts important for use cases are object, action, behavior, role, contract, community, and objective or purpose.
doi:10.5381/jot.2005.4.6.a9 fatcat:ynlajqxhyncrflissfagkwrk3i