Automated translation of UML models of architectures for verification and simulation using SPIN

The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is fast becoming an industry standard for object-oriented modeling and analysis. Applying the UML to model, analyze and design dependable systems require methods and tools for model checking that are integrated with the UML and its support environment. Recent advances in model-checking technologies have led to the development of approaches and tools to check the correctness of security protocols as well as check the correctness properties (such as deadlock properties) of architectural abstractions of component based systems implementing specific styles of coordination. This paper focuses on use of a specific model-checking technology, SPIN, in model checking architectures specified using UML. In particular the paper develops an approach to check desired properties of a class of distributed component based software architectures characterized by indirect connection via mediators and shared space. The approach is demonstrated in the context of an architectural design implementing the NetBill protocol for e-commerce.