Deriving Message Sequence Charts from Use Case Maps Scenario Specifications

A set of scenarios is a useful way to capture many aspects of the requirements of a system. Use Case Maps are a method for scenario capture which is good for describing multiple scenarios, including scenario interactions, for developing an architecture, and for analysing architectural alternatives. However once a component architecture is determined, Message Sequence Charts are better for developing and presenting the details of interactions, and provide access to well-developed methodologies and tools for analysis and synthesis. This paper considers what must be specified in UCM scenarios and the architecture to make it possible to derive MSCs automatically, and it describes our experience in executing these transformations within a prototype tool, the UCM Navigator.