A Methodology for the Specification of Transformations between Information Models

Abstract

Information models are increasingly used to specify a domain of interest: e.g. netlist information for electronic circuits. But in spite of all standardisation efforts, and with the wider adoption of the information modelling technology, several models of a single domain are created. Often, these information models describe conceptual views of different languages, different tools, or different standards of the respective domain. This chapter addresses the problems of comparing these models, describing their differences and commonalities, and specifying transformations between them. A methodology based on the use of a “core model” is proposed. The core model is another information model which describes the concepts common to both original models. Formal relationships between the core model and the original models describe how instances of one model can be transformed to instances of the other model. This methodology has been applied as a case study in order to compare and formally relate information models of EDIF (Electronic Design Interchange Format) and CFI (CAD Framework Initiative).