EAI — Semantic information is poorly organized between the Chapter 6

Issue: Semantic information is poorly organized between the Chapter 6 (EAI Integration Metamodel) and Chapter 8 (Collaboration Modeling).

Document: UML Profile and Interchange Metamodel for EAI (ptc/02-02-02)
Chapters: 6, 8 and 9

Description:
Chapter 6 describes the interchange metamodel and one would expect it to also provide the normative semantics of models constructed according to that metamodel. However, the specification of semantics is, in reality, spread between Chapter 6, Chapter 8 (which describes the collaboration modeling profile) and Chapter 9 (which describes the activity modeling profile). In practice, it is necessary to carefully read corresponding sections in both Chapters 6 and 8 (or 6 and 9) in order to understand the intended semantics. But, since the structure of the chapters is not parallel and since there are inconsistencies between the chapters [some of which will be identified in subsequent issues], the specification ends up being very difficult to use.

Recommendation:

Structure Chapter 6 similarly to the specification of the UML 1.4 metamodel, but, perhaps, at a finer level of granularity. That is, for each major item (e.g., EAILink, EAITerminal, each kind of operator, etc.), organize the specification for that item under the following headings:

o Metamodel: The metamodel diagram for the item. (Analogous to the UML metamodel "Abstract Syntax".)
o Constraints: Textual and OCL descriptions of each of the applicable constraints. (Analogous to the UML metamodel "Well-Formedness Rules".)

o Semantics: The COMPLETE specification of the semantics of the item.

Chapter 8 should have a closely parallel structure to Chapter 6. For each major item, Chapter 8 should present:
o Description of the profile notation/stereotypes and its mapping to the metamodel.
o Textual and OCL descriptions of constraints associated with the stereotypes. (Note that, as part of the profile, these are constraints on the UML metamodel, as opposed to the constraints in Chapter 6, which are constraints on the EAI interchange metamodel.)

o Descriptions of the mapping between the UML semantics and the metamodel semantics.

Note that Chapter 8 should ONLY describe the MAPPING to the Chapter 6 metamodel and semantics, and not otherwise contain any normative semantics. (Similar comments also apply to Chapter 9, "Activity Modeling", and its relation to Chapter 6.)

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