Semantics of Logical Relations in Topological Functioning Model

Abstract

The Topological functioning model (TFM) captures system functioning specification in the form of topological space consisting of functional features and cause-and-effect relations among them and is represented in a form of directed graph. The formal foundation of TFM makes it as a primary model which should be developed when implementing a software system. The functional features together with topological relationships contain the necessary information to create diagrams of other type, e.g., Activity or Communication diagrams. To specify the behaviour of system execution a new artefact is added to TFM – logical relations. The presence of logical relations denotes forking, branching, decision making, and joining during execution of system. Thus, it is needed to carefully analyse these new relations in TFM to have all the necessary information to transform it to other diagrams. The paper concludes with an example of TFM analysis and logical relationship identification within it.