Systematic Transformation Method from UML to Event-B

Abstract

In object-oriented software development, UML has become a de facto modeling standard. However, although UML is easy to understand and apply, it has inaccurate semantics, and UML is a semi-formal modeling language, which cannot be formally verified. Event-B is a formal method based on a large number of mathematical predicate logic, which is precise but difficult to understand and apply. Therefore, how to combine the advantages of UML diagram and Event-B method is the focus of the research. The previous transformation methods are based on the transformation from UML scatter diagram to Event-B, which is prone to conflict and inconsistency. Therefore, we propose a systematic transformation method that can realize the corresponding unification of elements in UML and those in Event-B. The general software system is a medium-sized system. We believe that the medium-sized system can be clearly expressed by using use case diagram, class diagram, state diagram and sequence diagram. In this paper, the transformation methods from these four diagrams to Event-B are given respectively. The transformation method of the system is applied to the elevator control system which requires high safety and reliability. The system transformation method from UML to Event-B not only improves the accuracy of UML and is easy for software practitioners to use, but also enhances the comprehensibility of formal methods and is conducive to the promotion and application of formal methods.