Research Of An Embedded System Modeling Approach Based On UML And Petri Nets

Embedded system becomes more and more complicated with its widespread use in a variety of domains. Modeling approach could improve the correctness, shorten the period of design, and reduce the cost in embedded system development. An embedded system modeling approach based on Unified Modeling Language (UML) and Petri nets was proposed in the paper.As an object oriented modeling technique, UML is good at simplifying the design complexity, and provides powerful support to embedded system designers at different stages from requirement analysis, design, to implementation. However, for lack of defined semantics, embedded system models described by UML are difficult to verify. Embedded system can be modeled by formal criterion through Petri nets modeling approach which based on rigid mathematical foundations. In addition, many Petri nets tools are available which can be used to accomplish validation. Nevertheless, Petri nets are not an intuitive modeling approach and cannot overcome its weakness in acquiring requirement. Combining UML with Petri nets offers significant benefits especially in acquire requirement, analyze design, rigorous modeling, and formal validation.According to the features of application of UML and Petri, an embedded system modeling approach based on UML and Petri nets is studied in the paper (The paper names it as UML-PN).The main contents of UML-PN are as follow:(l) Firstly,embedded system is modeled by UML. Use case models, static models and dynamic models are constructed step by step by means of the description of system to be developed, and finally, all will be analyzed and integrated into design model. (2) During the time of the development of control code and components of software and hardware object, oriented Petri nets (OOPN) are used to model and verify the design of subsystem decomposed. (3)Formal validation of the model of embedded system is achieved by means of transforming UML model into Petri nets. The corresponding relations between state charts diagram, class diagram and the elements of Petri nets were analyzed. Moreover, the rules using for convert class diagram, state charts into...