Lecture five
Object and Class Structuring,
and Dynamic Interaction
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I. Object and Class Structuring
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Lecture Outline
Overview of object and class structuring
Describes modeling application classes and objects
Overview of object and class structuring categories
Describes external classes and boundary classes
Describe the different types of boundary classes and objects
Describe entity classes and objects
Describe the different types of control classes and objects
Describe application logic classes and objects
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Object and class Structuring Criteria
Determining the software objects is the next step after
defining the use cases and developing the static model.
But there is no one unique way to decompose a system into
objects
Because the decision is based on the analyst judgment
Whether objects are in the same class or in a different
class depends on the nature of the problem. Example:
cars, vans and trucks
In automobile catalog – (object in the same class)
For vehicle manufacturer – (object of different class)
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Object and class Structuring Criteria
Object and class structuring criteria are provided to assist the
designer in structuring a system into objects.
Look for real-world objects in the problem domain and then
design corresponding software objects.
It is necessary to determine what software classes and objects
are needed to realize each use case.
Before starting dynamic modeling
The structuring criteria categorize software classes and objects by the roles
they play
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Modeling Application Classes and Objects
11/21/2023 Classification of Application classes by Stereotype 6
Object and Class Structuring Criteria
In this step, classes should be categorized in order to
group together, based on their similar characteristics.
The categorization in previous slide applies equally to
classes and objects.
B/c an object is an instance of a class.
Object has the same stereotype as the classes
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Object and class Structuring Categories
Most applications will have objects from each of the four
categories.
However, different types of applications will have a
greater number of classes in one or other category.
Information-intensive systems will have several entity classes
(Static model is so important).
Real-time systems are likely to have several device I/O
boundary classes. (state-dependent control classes)
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Object and class Structuring Categories
The four main objects and classes categories:
1. Entity Objects: encapsulates information and provides access
to the information it stores
2. Boundary Objects: interfaces to and communicates with the
external environment
User interaction objects: object that interacts with and interfaces
to a human user
Proxy objects: object that interfaces to and communicates with an
external system or subsystem
Device I/O objects: object that receives input from and/or outputs
to a hardware I/O device
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Object and class Structuring Categories
The four main objects and classes categories (Cont..)
3. Control Objects: object that provides the overall coordination
for a collection of objects (reading assignment: read the following
types of control objects)
Coordinator objects: overall decision maker of all related objects
State-dependent objects: object whose behaviour varies in each of
its states.
Timer objects:
4. Application logic Objects: object that contains the details of the
application logic.
To hide the application logic separately from the data
It can be business logic, algorithm and service.
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Object and class Structuring Categories
In most cases, what category an object fits into is usually
obvious.
However, in some cases, it is possible for an object to
satisfy more than one of the aforementioned criteria.
Example: an object can have entity object and algorithm
object characteristics.
In such cases, allocate the object to the category it seems to fit
best.
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External Class and Software Boundary Classes
External classes are classes that are outside the software
system and that interface to the system.
Boundary classes are classes inside the system that
interface to and communicate with the external classes.
Consider the external classes to determine the boundary
classes.
Each of the external classes communicates with a boundary
class.
There is usually a one-to-one association between the
external class and the internal boundary class.
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External Class and Software Boundary Classes
External classes interface to software boundary classes as
follows:
An external user class interfaces to and interacts with a user
interaction class.
An external system class interfaces to and communicates with
a proxy class.
An external device class provides input to and/or receives
output from a device I/O boundary class.
An external timer class signals to a software timer class.
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Boundary Classes and Objects
The three different types of boundary classes:
User interaction object.
Proxy objects
Device I/O objects
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User Interaction Objects
Communicates directly with the human user.
Receiving input from the user and providing output to the
user via standard I/O devices.
Example of user interaction class and object
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Proxy Objects
Interfaces to and communicates with an external system.
Local representative of the external system and hides the
details of “how” to communicate with the external system.
11/21/2023 Example of proxy class and object 16
Device I/O Objects
Provides the software interface to a hardware I/O device.
Device I/O boundary objects are needed for nonstandard
application specific I/O devices.
11/21/2023 Example of input class and object 17
Device I/O Objects
Example of output class and object
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Device I/O Objects
11/21/2023 Example of I/O class and object 19
Depicting External Classes and Boundary Classes
11/21/2023 Banking System External classes and Boundary classes 20
Entity Classes and Objects
It is a software object that stores information.
Entity objects store data and provide limited access to that
data via the operations they provide.
11/21/2023 Example of entity class and object 21
Control Classes and Objects
Provides the overall coordination of the objects that
realize a use case.
Simple use cases do not need control objects.
Depending on the characteristics of the use case, the
control object may be state-dependent.
A coordinator object is an overall decision-making object
that determines the overall sequencing for a collection of
related objects.
The decision is based on the input it receives
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Control Classes and Objects
11/21/2023 Example of coordinator class and object 23
Control Classes and Objects
A state-dependent control object is a control object whose
behavior varies in each of its states.
A finite state machine is used to define a state-dependent
control object.
11/21/2023 Example of state-dependent control class and object 24
Control Classes and Objects
A timer object is a control object that is activated by an
external timer. (real-time clock, OS clock)
It either performs some action itself or activates another
object to perform the desired action.
11/21/2023 Example of a timer class and object 25
Application Logic Classes and Objects
A business logic object defines the business-specific application logic for
processing a client request.
Usually a business logic object accesses various entity objects during its
execution.
If the business rule can be executed by accessing two or more entity objects,
there should be a separate business logic object.
See next slide… where withdrawal transaction manager business logic
accesses three entity objects to serve its purpose.
If accessing one entity object is sufficient to execute the business rule, it
could be provided by an operation of that object.
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Application Logic Classes and Objects
Example of business logic class and object
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Application Logic Classes and Objects
An algorithm object encapsulates an algorithm used in
the problem domain.
More prevalent in real-time, scientific, and engineering
domains.
Simple algorithms are usually operations of an entity
object that operate on the data.
An algorithm object frequently has to interact with other
objects in order to execute its algorithm.
Encapsulate and excite the algorithm
Coordinator object (supervise other objects)
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Application Logic Classes and Objects
11/21/2023 Example of algorithm class and object 29
Application Logic Classes and Objects
A service object is an object that provides a service for
other objects.
A service object never initiates a request; however, in
response to a service request it might seek the assistance
of other service objects.
Service objects play an important role in service-oriented
architectures.
Also client/server, component-based Software architecture
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Application Logic Classes and Objects
11/21/2023 Example of service class and object 31
II. Dynamic Interaction Modeling
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Lecture Outline
Overview of object interaction modeling
Communication diagrams
Sequence diagrams
Describes message sequence numbering on interaction
diagrams
Introduces dynamic interaction modeling
Describe stateless dynamic interaction modeling
Examples of dynamic interaction modeling
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Object Interaction Modeling
A communication diagram is an interaction diagram that
depicts a dynamic view of a group of objects interacting
with each other by showing the sequence of messages
passed among them.
A communication diagram is developed for each use case
Only objects that participate in the use case are depicted
The sequence in which the objects participate in each use
case is depicted by means of message sequence numbers.
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Object Interaction Modeling
11/21/2023 Use case diagram for the View Alarms use case 35
Object Interaction Modeling
11/21/2023 Communication diagram for the View Alarms use case 36
Object Interaction Modeling
– Sequence diagram: shows object interactions arranged in
time sequence.
• Can also depict loops and iterations
– Sequence diagrams and communication diagrams depict
similar information, but in different ways.
– Usually either communication or sequence diagrams are
used to describe a dynamic view of a system.
– Numbering the messages on sequence diagram is not
essential, it can be shown from the top to the bottom.
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Object Interaction Modeling
11/21/2023 Sequence diagram for the View Alarms use case 38
Analysis and Design Decision in Object Interaction Modeling
In the analysis model, messages represent the information
passed between objects.
Interaction diagrams (communication or sequence ) help
in determining the operations of the objects.
But, the information is more important at this stage
During design:
The type operations
Kind of message passed between objects
Object type
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Sequence Diagram Vs Communication Diagram
Sequence diagrams:
Clearly shows the order of the messages
Indicating the objects connection is more difficult
Iterations and decision statements can obscure
Communication diagrams :
Shows the layout of the objects (connection)
Message sequence is less readily visible
The communication diagrams are the COMET preference
Important step in the transition to design (To create the
initial software architecture)
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Massage Label on Interaction Diagram
A message label has the following syntax:
[sequence expression]: Message Name (argument list)
Dynamic interaction modeling is carried out for each use
case.
Dynamic interaction modeling can be either state-
dependent or stateless.
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Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
The main steps in the stateless dynamic interaction
modeling approach are:
Start with the use case
Consider the objects needed to realize the use case
Determine the sequence of message communication among
the objects
Two dynamic interaction modeling examples:
Use case for View Alarms
Use case for Process Delivery Order
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Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
11/21/2023 Use case description 43
Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
Determine objects needed to realize use case:
Two objects participate
User interaction object (Operator Interaction)
Service object (Alarm Service)
Determine message communication sequence:
Operator Interaction object make a request
Alarm Service responds with the desired information
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Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
11/21/2023 Message sequence 45
Object Interaction Modeling
11/21/2023 Communication diagram for the View Alarms use case 46
Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
Example 2: Stateless dynamic interaction modeling of an
online shopping service-oriented system.
11/21/2023 Use case diagram for the Make Order Request use case 47
Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
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Use case description
Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
Determine objects needed to realize use case:
User interaction object (Customer Interaction)
Service one (Customer Account Service)
Service two (Credit Card Service)
Service three (Delivery Order Service)
Service four (Email Service)
Coordinator object (Customer Coordinator)
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Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
Determine message communication sequence:
Customer Interaction makes an order request to Customer
Coordinator (M1 and M2)
Customer Coordinator needs to request account information
from Customer Account Service (M3 and M4)
Customer Coordinator needs to request credit card
authorization from Credit Card Service (M5)
The credit card authorization request is approved (M6)
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Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
Determine message communication sequence:
Customer Coordinator needs to store the order at Delivery
Order Service (M7 and M8)
The system confirms the order to the user (M9 and M10)
Sends a confirmation email via the email service (M9a)
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Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
11/21/2023 Message description 52
Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
11/21/2023 Communication Diagram : Main Sequence 53
Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
11/21/2023 Sequence diagram : main sequence 54
Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
Determine alternative sequence:
The scenario diverges from the main scenario at step M4A.
The alternative response to the account request of step M3 is
M4A [no account]:
Account does not exist
The message sequence for this alternative scenario is M4A
through M4A.8
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Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
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Alternative message description 56
Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
11/21/2023 Sequence diagram : alternative sequence for Create New Account 57
Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
Determine alternative sequence:
The scenario also diverges from the main scenario at step
M6A.
The alternative response to the authorized credit card
request of step M5 is M6A [denied]:
Credit card denied
The message sequence for this alternative scenario is M6A
through M6A.2.
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Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
11/21/2023 Alternative sequence description 59
Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
11/21/2023 Communication diagram : alternative sequence for Credit Card denied 60
Example of Stateless Dynamic Interaction Modeling
11/21/2023 Generic communication diagram (main + alternative sequences) 61
Thank You !!!
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