Leveraging patterns on domain models to improve UML profile definition

Building a reliable UML profile is a difficult activity that requires the use of complex mechanisms -stereotypes and their attributes, OCL enforcement- to define a domain-specific modeling language (DSML). Despite the ever increasing number of profiles being built in many domains, there is a little published literature available to help DSML designers. Without a clear design process, most such profiles are inaccurate and jeopardize subsequent model transformations or model analyses. We believe that a suitable approach to building UML based domain specific languages should include systematic transformation of domain representations into profiles. This article therefore proposes a clearly-defined process geared to helping the designer throughout this design activity. Starting from the conceptual domain model, we identify a set of design patterns for which we detail several profile implementations. We illustrate our approach by creating a simplified profile that depicts elements belonging to a real-time system domain. The prototype tool supporting our approach is also described.