A Methodology of Model Transformation in MDA: from CIM to PIM

Abstract

The main key in MDA is the models transformation. There are two kinds of transformations into MDA: CIM to PIM and PIM to PSM. Most researchers focused on the transformation from PIM to PSM, because there are several points in common between these two levels. But Transforming CIM to PIM is rarely discussed in research subjects because they are two different levels. This paper presents a methodology to master transformation of models from CIM level to PIM level respecting the MDA approach. Our proposal results from an analytical survey. From the beginning, in the CIM level, we take into consideration that we are into a process of creating business models that will be automatically transformed to PIM models. Our methodology is founded on creating a good CIM level, through well-chosen rules, to facilitate transformation to the PIM level. However, we establish a rich PIM level, respecting the three classic modeling views: functional, dynamic and static. Use case model presents functional view, state diagram model interprets the dynamic view, class and package models show the static view. Next, a set of transformation rules are implemented by ATL language to ensure a semi-automatic transformation from the CIM level to the PIM level. Our method conforms to MDA recommendations by considering the business dimension in the CIM level, and by modeling this latter level using BPMN notation which is the OMG standard for modeling business process. Nevertheless, we used UML models into the PIM level, because UML is recommended by MDA in this level.