Automatic extraction of PEPA performance models from UML activity diagrams annotated with the MARTE profile

ABSTRACT

Recent trends in software engineering lean towards modelcentric development methodologies, a context in which the UML plays a crucial role. To provide modellers with quantitative insights into their artifacts, the UML benefits from a framework for software performance evaluation provided by MARTE, the UML profile for model-driven development of Real Time and Embedded Systems. MARTE offers a rich semantics which is general enough to allow different quantitative analysis techniques to act as underlying performance engines. In the present paper we explore the use of the stochastic process algebra PEPA as one such engine, providing a procedure to systematically map activity diagrams onto PEPA models. Independent activity flows are translated into sequential automata which co-ordinate at the synchronisation points expressed by fork and join nodes of the activity. The PEPA performance model is interpreted against a Markovian semantics which allows the calculation of performance indices such as throughput and utilisation. We also discuss the implementation of a new software tool powered by the popular Eclipse platform which implements the fully automatic translation from MARTE-annotated UML activity diagrams to PEPA models.

REFERENCES

• 1: Proceedings of the Fifth International Workshop on Software and Performance, WOSP 2005, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain, July 12-14, 2005. ACM, 2005.
• 2: Simonetta Balsamo , Antinisca Di Marco , Paola Inverardi , Marta Simeoni, Model-Based Performance Prediction in Software Development: A Survey, IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, v.30 n.5, p.295-310, May 2004 [doi>10.1109/TSE.2004.9]
• 3: Simonetta Balsamo , Moreno Marzolla, Performance evaluation of UML software architectures with multiclass Queueing Network models, Proceedings of the 5th international workshop on Software and performance, p.37-42, July 12-14, 2005, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain [doi>10.1145/1071021.1071025]
• 4: Simona Bernardi , Susanna Donatelli , José Merseguer, From UML sequence diagrams and statecharts to analysable petri net models, Proceedings of the 3rd international workshop on Software and performance, July 24-26, 2002, Rome, Italy [doi>10.1145/584369.584376]
• 5: J. T. Bradley and S. T. Gilmore. Stochastic simulation methods applied to a secure electronic voting model. Electr. Notes Theor. Comput. Sci., 151(3):5--25, 2006.
• 6: C. Canevet, S. Gilmore, J. Hillston, L. Kloul, and P. Stevens. Analysing UML 2.0 Activity Diagrams in the Software Performance Engineering Process. In Dujmovic et al. {9}, pages 74--78.
• 7: C. Canevet, S. Gilmore, J. Hillston, M. Prowse, and P. Stevens. Performance Modelling with UML and Stochastic Process Algebras. IEE Proceedings: Computers and Digital Techniques, 150(2):107--120, Mar. 2003.
• 8: Andrea D'Ambrogio , Paolo Bocciarelli, A model-driven approach to describe and predict the performance of composite services, Proceedings of the 6th international workshop on Software and performance, February 05-08, 2007, Buenes Aires, Argentina [doi>10.1145/1216993.1217008]
• 9: Proceedings of the 4th international workshop on Software and performance, January 2004
• 10: Eclipse Foundation. Eclipse UML2 Project Home Page. http://www.eclipse.org/uml2/.
• 11: S. Gilmore, J. Hillston, L. Kloul, and M. Ribaudo. Software Performance Modelling Using PEPA Nets. In Dujmovic et al. {9}, pages 13--23.
• 12: Stephen Gilmore , Jane Hillston , Marina Ribaudo, An Efficient Algorithm for Aggregating PEPA Models, IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, v.27 n.5, p.449-464, May 2001 [doi>10.1109/32.922715]
• 13: S. Gilmore and L. Kloul. A unified tool for performance modelling and predicition. In Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Computer Safety, Reliability and Security (SAFECOMP?03), number 2788 in LNCS, pages 179--192, Edinburgh, Scotland, Sept. 2003. Springer-Verlag.
• 14: Jane Hillston, A compositional approach to performance modelling, Cambridge University Press, New York, NY, 1996
• 15: J. Hillston, Fluid Flow Approximation of PEPA models, Proceedings of the Second International Conference on the Quantitative Evaluation of Systems (QEST'05) on The Quantitative Evaluation of Systems, p.33, September 19-22, 2005 [doi>10.1109/QEST.2005.12]
• 16: J. Hillston and Y. Wang. Performance evaluation of UML models via automatically generated simulation models. In S. A. Jarvis, editor, Proceedings of the 19th Annual UK Performance Engineering Workshop, pages 64--78, Warwick, UK, 2003.
• 17: IBM Corporation. Rational Software Architect. http://www-306.ibm.com/software/awdtools/architect/swarchitect/.
• 18: Christoph Lindemann , Axel Thümmler , Alexander Klemm , Marco Lohmann , Oliver P. Waldhorst, Performance analysis of time-enhanced UML diagrams based on stochastic processes, Proceedings of the 3rd international workshop on Software and performance, July 24-26, 2002, Rome, Italy [doi>10.1145/584369.584375]
• 19: J. P. López-Grao, J. Merseguer, and J. Campos. From UML activity diagrams to Stochastic Petri nets: application to software performance engineering. In Dujmovic et al. {9}, pages 25--36.
• 20: José Merseguer , Javier Campos , Simona Bernardi , Susanna Donatelli, A Compositional Semantics for UML State Machines Aimed at Performance Evaluation, Proceedings of the Sixth International Workshop on Discrete Event Systems (WODES'02), p.295, October 02-04, 2002
• 21: J. Merseguer and J. Campos. Exploring Roles for the UML Diagrams in Software Performance Engineering. In Proceedings of the 2003 International Conference on Software Engineering Research and Practice SERP03, pages 43--47, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, June 2003. CSREA Press.
• 22: Object Management Group. OMG MARTE Tools. http://www.omgmarte.org/Tools.htm.
• 23: Object Management Group. UML Profile for Schedulability, Performance, and Time Specification. Version 1.1. OMG, 2005. OMG document number formal/05-07-04.
• 24: Object Management Group. UML 2.2.1 Superstructure Specification. OMG, 2007. OMG document number formal/05-07-04.
• 25: Object Management Group. UML Profile for Modeling and Analysis of Real-Time and Embedded Systems (MARTE). Beta 1. OMG, 2007. OMG document number ptc/07-08-04.
• 26: Dorina C. Petriu , Hui Shen, Applying the UML Performance Profile: Graph Grammar-Based Derivation of LQN Models from UML Specifications, Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Computer Performance Evaluation, Modelling Techniques and Tools, p.159-177, April 14-17, 2002
• 27: James Rumbaugh , Ivar Jacobson , Grady Booch, The Unified Modeling Language reference manual, Addison-Wesley Longman Ltd., Essex, UK, 1998
• 28: Grady Booch , James Rumbaugh , Ivar Jacobson, The Unified Modeling Language user guide, Addison Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc., Redwood City, CA, 1999
• 29: Mirco Tribastone, The PEPA Plug-in Project, Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Quantitative Evaluation of Systems, p.53-54, September 17-19, 2007 [doi>10.1109/QEST.2007.49]
• 30: Murray Woodside , Dorina C. Petriu , Dorin B. Petriu , Hui Shen , Toqeer Israr , Jose Merseguer, Performance by unified model analysis (PUMA), Proceedings of the 5th international workshop on Software and performance, p.1-12, July 12-14, 2005, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain [doi>10.1145/1071021.1071022]

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.6 SIMULATION AND MODELING
      I.6.5 Model Development
          Subjects: Modeling methodologies

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.8 Metrics
          Subjects: Performance measures

General Terms:
Performance

Keywords:
marte, pepa, uml