xEAI-rules: executable models to simulate enterprise application cooperation

Abstract

We propose an approach to create application-cooperation executable UML models by performing transformations on high-level business rule models. Business rules are defined, using activity diagrams, then, they are transformed to an annotated PIM to, finally, be transformed into an executable UML (xUML) model. The xUML model along side with a set of test cases enables us to validate that applications, whose cooperation is described in the rules, maintain consistency and integrity. Because this validation is based on a non-distributed, platform-independent simulation the cost and effort of its development and testing is reduced; early detection of flaws can help avoid expensive modifications on a concrete platform specific implementation.