12.3.43 ParameterSet
Issue 8749 -replace ‘and’ with ‘or’
A parameter set is an element that provides alternative sets of inputs or outputs that a behavior may use.
*Generalizations
•
NamedElement (from Kernel , Dependencies ) on page 99
*Description
A parameter set acts as a complete set of inputs and outputs to a behavior, exclusive of other parameter sets on the behavior.
*Attributes
No additional attributes
Issue 8262 - add subsets constraint
• condition : Constraint [0..*] Constraint that should be satisfied for the owner of the parameters in an input parameter set
to start execution using the values provided for those parameters, or the owner of the parameters in an output parameter set
to end execution providing the values for those parameters, if all preconditions and conditions on input parameter sets were
satisfied. {Subsets Element::ownedElement}
*Constraints
[1] The parameters in a parameter set must all be inputs or all be outputs of the same parameterized entity, and the parameter
set is owned by that entity.
[2] If a behavior has input parameters that are in a parameter set, then any inputs that are not in a parameter set must be
streaming. Same for output parameters.
[3] Two parameter sets cannot have exactly the same set of parameters.
*Semantics
A behavior with input parameter sets can only accept inputs from parameters in one of the sets per execution. A behavior with
output parameter sets can only post outputs to the parameters in one of the sets per execution. The same is true for operations
with parameter sets. The semantics described at Action and ActivityParameter apply to each set separately. The semantics of
conditions of input and output parameter sets is the same as Behavior preconditions and postconditions, respectively, but
apply only to the set of parameters specified.
*Notation
Multiple object flows entering or leaving a behavior invocation are typically treated as and conditions. However, sometimes
one group of flows are permitted to the exclusion of another. This is modeled as parameter set and notated with rectangles
surrounding one or more pins. The notation in the figure below expresses a disjunctive normal form where one group of and
flows are separated by or groupings. For input, when one group or another has a complete set of input flows, the activity
may begin. For output, based on the internal processing of the behavior, one group or other of output flows may occur.
Figure 12.117 - Alternative input/outputs using parameter sets notation
*Examples
In the figure below, the Ship Item activity begins whenever it receives a bought item or a made item.
Using parameter sets to express or invocation
Figure 12.118 - Example of alternative input/outputs using parameter sets
Parameter sets provide a way for behaviors to direct token flow in the activity that invokes those behaviors.
*Changes from previous UML
ParameterSet is new in UML 2.0.