From UML to LQN by XML algebra-based model transformations

The change of focus from code to models promoted by OMG's Model Driven Development raises the need for verification of non-functional characteristics of UML models. such as performance, reliability, scalability, security, etc. Many modeling formalisms, techniques and tools have been developed over the years for the analysis of different non-functional characteristics. The challenge is not to reinvent new analysis methods for UML models, but to bridge the gap between UML-based software development tools and different kinds of existing analysis tools. Traditionally, the analysis models were built "by hand". However, a new trend is starting to emerge, that involves the automatic transformation of UML models (annotated with extra information) into various kinds of analysis models. This paper proposes a transformation method of an annotated UML model into a performance model. The mapping between the input model and the output model is defined at a higher level of abstraction based on graph transformation concepts, whereas the implementation of the transformation rules and algorithm uses lower-level XML trees manipulations techniques, such as XML algebra. The target performance model used as an example in this paper is the Layered Queueing Network (LQN); however, the transformation approach can be easily tailored to other performance modelling formalisms.