1. OPCAT: Object-Process CASE Tool
ICEIS 2003
Dov Dori
Technion, Israel; MIT, USA

2. Why Object-Process Methodology?
As the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of systems increases, the need for a universal modeling, engineering, and lifecycle support approach becomes ever more essential.
The complexity and software orientation of the current standard language calls for a simpler, formal, generic paradigm for systems development.

3. What is Object-Process Methodology (OPM)?
A comprehensive systems modeling, engineering, and lifecycle support paradigm
Two major features:
Unification of function, structure and behavior in a single model
Bi-modal expression of the model via intuitive yet formal graphics and equivalent natural language

4. The OPM Ontology: OPM Elements are Entities and Links
Entity types:
Object: A thing that exists for some time
State: A situation at which an object can be
Process: A thing that transforms an object
Link types:
Structural link: A link denoting a persistent relation between objects
Procedural link: A link between a process and the object it transforms or a state of that object

5. OPM Elements: Entities and Links
Entity types:
Object: A thing that exists for some time
State: A situation at which an object can be
Process: A thing that transforms an object
Link types:
Structural link: A link denoting a persistent relation between objects
Procedural link: A link between a process and the object it transforms or a state of that object

6. Processes transform objects
Three transformation options:
Change an object state
Create (generate) a new object
Consume (destroy) an existing object

7. Creating a new object: Result link

8. Consuming an existing object: Consumption link

9. Changing object state

10. States can be initial or final

11. Structural Links Fundamental Structural Links
Aggregation-participation
Exhibition-characterization
Generalization-specialization
Classification-instantiation
General tagged structural links

12. Aggregation-participation
A structural relation between the whole and its parts

13. Exhibition-characterization
A structural relation between a thing and its features

14. Generalization-specialization
A structural relation between a thing and its specializations (known as the “is-a” relation)

15. Classification-instantiation
A structural relation between a thing and its instances

16. General tagged structural link
A structural relation between two things whose semantics is expressed through its tag
Bidirectional tagged structural link
Unidirectional tagged structural link

17. Participation constraints
Structural relation can be associated with various quantities

18. Syntax and Semantics Consistency Checking
Trying to make a process part of an object results:

19. Procedural Links Enabling Links Transforming Links Agent link
Instrument link
Transforming Links
result/consumption/input/output link
Effect link

20. Enabling Links
Link objects that enable the process but are not transformed by it
Agent link
Links a human or a group of humans that trigger the process or participate in it
Instrument link
Links a non-human object that the process requires in order for it to occur or execute

21. Agent Link

22. Instrument Link

23. Complexity Management
The ability to trade off clarity and completeness:
Clarity is the ability to clearly present and see the system’s structure and behavior
Completeness is the extent to which all the details of the system are specified
These two model attributes necessarily contradict each other

24. Complexity Management in OPM
Three refinement/abstraction mechanisms:
In-zooming/out-zooming
Unfolding/folding
State expression/state suppression

25. In-zooming
Exposing the details inside a complex process

26. In-zooming
The sub-processes of the Building process are depicted inside the in-zoomed process ellipse

27. Simulation by animation

28. Green objects already exist

29. Building started

30. Building in-zoomed

31. Foundation Constructing in-zoomed

32. Foundation Constructing in-zoomed

33. Certificate is being created

34. Foundations are being created, Holes and Concrete consumed

35. House ready, Raw Material gone

36. Summary OPCAT is suitable for Requirements elicitation and analysis
System architecting and detailed design
Collaboration among various stakeholders
Simulation for testing and verification (operational)
Code and database generation
UML diagram generation (operational)
Automatic documentation (operational)

37. Current OPCAT projects
Universal code generator (operational)
Groupware capability
Automatic diagram layout
Visual Semantic Web
Pen input
Voice input and output
Interface to CAD and ERP
Module creation and reuse
Requirements elicitation and analysis
System architecting and detailed design
Collaboration among various stakeholders
Simulation for testing and verification
Code and database generation
UML diagram generation
Automatic documentation