Interaction Design &UML Sequence Diagram

• Once we have decomposed the system and designed the individual components (or classes), we need to depict how these pieces collaborate to deliver the services. (of course, you may go back and re-design the components after looking at the collaboration)

• The interactions among the individual participants (classes) can be captured with different UML notations, but mainly through Sequence Diagrams

• Sequence diagram depicts the “message flow” among the participants and thus depicts the collaboration among the participants.

General Sequence Diagram• It is composed of a

diagram frame:1) with an identifier

name 2) the individual

participants (classes) in the form of “lifeline” composed of:

• A rectangle depicting the participating object

• A dotted line that extends for the time period of the interaction

3) messages to communicate among the participants

order process

client order inventory

create

Locate item

Message Arrows for Communications

• The message arrows represent the communications between two objects in a sequence diagram. It goes from the lifeline of one object to that of another object

– Synchronous message where the sending object suspends action and waits for the response to the message

– Asynchronous message where the sending object continues with its operations without waiting for the response

– A return of control from the synchronous message

– A creation of a new entity

(filled head)

(open head)

Message Specification

• Every synchronous and asynchronous arrow must be labeled with a message specification on top of the message arrow.

• The message format :

return_variable_name = message_name (param_list)

– Both the i) return_variable_name and ii) the “=“ sign are suppressed if there is no return value

– message_name is never suppressed (required field)– param_list is a list of arguments separated by commas and

is suppressed when there is no argument See page 364 for detailsof param list

Examples of Sequence Diagram’s message specification

• age = getAge or age = getAge( ) – message specifies that the return value from getAge

operation is assigned to the variable age. Note that age is a variable accessible by the object that sent the message

• checkStatus (flag = status, machine)– message specifies that checkStatus operation passes a

parameter and gets back the status information which assigned to a “local” variable, flag. (local meaning the object that sent the message)

Execution Occurrence in Sequence Diagram

• An operation is executing when a process is running

• An operation is suspended when it sends a synchronous message and waiting for a return message.

• An operation is considered active when it is either executing or suspended

• An object is active if one or more of its operation is active. While an object is active it is shown with an execution occurrence (a thin rectangle covering the dashed line).

– A synchronous message always initiates a new execution occurrence

(e.g. Order in the diagram)

sample

client order inventory

create(ord#)

locate_item(i)

Interaction Fragments

• Sequence diagram depicts the interactions among the entities. The natural flow of “control” in the diagram is sequential from top to bottom and follows the direction of the message arrows. The natural sequential control can be broadened with “Interaction Fragments”:

– Optional Fragment ( “if –then” )

– Alternative Fragment ( “if-then-else-if - - -” or “case” )

– Break Fragment ( “break” )

– Loop Fragment ( iterations or “loop” )

Note that these fragments are like the control structures that exist ina programming language.

Depicting a Fragment Graphically

sd sample

client order inventory

create

Locate item

operatorop1

InteractionFragment

InteractionFragmentOperationName:(e.g. loop)

Interaction FragmentOperand

Depicting an Optional Fragment

sd sample

client order inventory

create_order

locate_item

Opt

cr_custinfo()

InteractionFragment

InteractionFragmentOperationName:(optional)

Interaction FragmentOperand

[new_cust]

InteractionFragmentguard

This Optional Fragment has only 1 operand and guard in brackets. A guardis a Boolean expression. The Optional Fragment is performed if the guard is true atthat point of the interaction. It is like the “if” structure of programming language

Depicting an Alternative Fragment

sd sample

client order inventory

Cr_order( )

Alt

cr_custinfo()

InteractionFragment Interaction

FragmentOperationName:(Alternative)

Interaction FragmentOperands

[new_cust= no]InteractionFragmentguard

The Alternative Fragment has multiple mutually exclusive guards in brackets. The operand associated with the true guard is executed. This structure is like the “CASE”or “if-then-else-if” constructs of the programming language

[new_cust=yes]

get_custinfo()

Depicting an Break Fragment

sd sample

client order inventory

Cr_order( )

Alt

cr_custinfo()

Interaction FragmentOperationName:(Break)

[new_cust= no]

The Break Fragment has a single operand which is processed if the guard is “true,”and the rest of the processing in the diagram is not performed. It is like the “break”construct in programming language.

[new_cust=yes]

get_custinfo()

break [ ! good_status]

error_msg( )

The guardexpression ofNOT good_status

Depicting an Loop Fragment

sd sampleorder inventory

Loop

Process_item()

Interaction FragmentOperationName:Loop (min,max)

The Loop Fragment is expressed as Loop(min,max). The loop is performed at least min times and at most max times. If neither min or max is specified, then min=0and max is unlimited. If the loop is performed min times but less than max, then it isperformed again as long as the guard is true. The default value of guard is true.

[more]

more = has_item(n_it)

The guardexpression of[ more]

iteratormore = has_item (n_it)

checking formore items

n_it = check_items()

create

Some Sequence Diagram Guidelines

• Pick a design level (based on the classes in the static model) and “be consistent” at that level through out the interaction diagram.

• Put the sender of the first message leftmost• Put pairs of entities that interact heavily next to each other• Position the entities to shorten the message arrows• Position the entities to make the message arrows go from let to

right• Suppress return arrows as much as possible when using

execution occurrences

Some Thoughts on Designing

1. Design is not a sequential process but much more iterative: (“Component/Interaction” Co-Design)

– Design (generate) the components in terms of entities (with class model and express in class diagram)

– Design the interactions among the classes (express in sequence diagram)

2. Design is not a single level process, but more top-down: (Outside-In Design)

• Top may be viewed as external (requirement level)• Down may be viewed class model and interactions

representing deeper levels of solutions•And we progressively move into more details (inwards)

Iterate the above as we evaluate, alter, and improve the model(See pages 376 -380 example in your book)

Some details on evaluating interaction alternatives(Example)

SD polling

waterHeatercntrl clock

loop

opt

time=getTime

[time = right]takeAction

SD notification

waterHeatercntrlclock

loop

opt

time=getTime

[time = right]

takeAction

notify

waterHeatercntrl is constantlypolling the clock with a fixedrate. - - - efficient for waterHeatercntrl?

clock is constantly checking time and notifies waterHeatercntrl when the time arrives, then waterHeatercntrl takes action.

Which one would you pick and why ?Also, note the synchronous message creates an execution occurrence

On Control Mechanism

• In designing, one of the issue is on “point of control,” or the controller, which makes decisions and directs other components.

• There are three major ways to establish control:– Centralized control where all decisions are made by one or

two entities and the rest of the entities receives directions from them

– Delegated control where only the main decisions are made by one or two “main” entities, other decisions are delegated to lower level entities and coordinated among the entities.

– Dispersed control where decision making is spread out widely, with no easily identifiable coordinating entity or entities.

Centralized Control• Should be used only when the solution is small and

only a few decisions are involved. (easy to find control point)

• Lots of drawbacks:– Centralized control can be “bloated” and too big to manage– May be less cohesion when too many varieties of decisions

are being made– May increase coupling between the controller and other

entities which merely act as data store or simple functions– Information hiding can NOT be easily achieved

Central contrl

Heuristics to Avoid Centralized Control

1. Avoid interaction design where most messages originate from single component

2. Keep components small so that there can not be a “bloated” controller. (This is not very different from the traditional advise on keeping modules small - - - how small is small? --- cohesion?)

3. Make sure that operational responsibilities are not assigned to just a few components.

4. Make sure operational responsibilities are consistent with data responsibilities. (what happens if they are not? - - - you may have less cohesion among methods in a class )

Look at diagram 12-3-3 on page 386: it is an over-centralized control design:

- AutoCycle delegates nothing and is coupled with all other objects - it lacks cohesion in that it is doing all types of details - it is too big in size because it contains all the low level activities

Delegated Control

• Control is in more entities – smaller in size• Information hiding is easier with different control

points• Increased cohesion with delegated points of control• Each controller is coupled to less entities. (but over-

all # of couplings may not decrease)

Delegated contrl

(Note: the 1st to 4th object interaction is asynchronous)

Heuristics for Delegated Control

• Delegated control is the ideal case we are after.

1. Ensure that each component is responsible for “high level” tasks and as much of the lower ( more detailed, less functional, just different functional areas, etc.) level tasks are delegated as possible.

2. The lower level tasks may be performed in a more collaborative manner among several other components.

Look at diagram 12-3-4 on page 387, where AutoCycle delegates some responsibilities to Zone. This is a much less coupled and a more cohesive design along with a certain amount of encapsulation of information.

Dispersed Control

• Too many controls and hard to figure out the interactions:

– Too much interactions among the entities – high coupling among the parts and possibly very low cohesion within each entity.

Heuristics for avoiding Dispersed control

• Basically, avoid situations where every component is sending a lot of messages to other components.

• Ensure that there is not an over-delegation, where each component is responsible for too a small portion of the whole and there are a lot of components involved in accomplishing anything.

Control and Communications

delegated &hierarchical

centralized &wheel

dispersed &all-member

[(n x (n-1))/ 2]potential coupling

(n-1) potential couplingbut deceiving because - -?

(n-1) potential couplingbut deceiving because - -?

Law of Demeter for OO Interaction Design

• An operation (method M) of an object, Obj, should send messages only to the following:

– Within the object, Obj, itself• Methods within Obj • Attributes of Obj (its instance variables)

– Argument of the operation (parameters of method M, which may be some object)

– Elements of a collection that is an argument of the operation or an attribute of the object, Obj.

– Objects created within the operation (objects instantiated within the method M)

– Global Classes or objects

The Law of Demeter is meant to help in : (1) information hiding; (2) lessening centralized control

Note that objects that are returned by messages sent to other object is not included. “ Talk only to your immediate neighbors”

Example from page 375 of text

• Design a water heater controller based on:• Caldera is a smart water heater controller that attaches to the

thermostat of a water heater and provides more efficient control of water temperature to save money and protects the environment.

• Caldera sets the water heater thermostat high when hot water is much in demand and sets it low when there is no much demand. For example:

– Caldera can be told to set the thermostat high on weekday mornings and evenings and all day on weekends.

– And low during the middle of the week days and nights.

– Caldera can be told to set the thermostat high all the time in case of illness or other needs.

– Caldera can be told to set the thermostat low all the time in case of vacation or some other prolonged absence from house.

Your Caldera Design may progress as follows:

heaterController thermostatset_temp

sd Caldera

heaterController thermostat

set_temp( )

1. Class Model

2. Class Interactions

Your Caldera Class Design (further Refinement) ?

heaterController thermostatset_temp

calendar

clock

manual

notify_timeno

tify_datesp

ecia

l_se

t

3. Further “Refined” Class Model

Your Caldera Interaction Design (further Refinement) ?

sd Caldera

heaterController thermostat

Set_temp( )Calendar Clock manual

Set_temp( )Special_set( )

Notify_date( )Notify_time( )

4. Refined Class Interactions in Sequence Diagram

Further Evaluate and Improve the Caldera Design

1. Consider the notion of adding another entity to represent the notion of “load scaling” or “temp scaling” which traps the inputs from clock and calendar and sends the controller a binary high or low signal.

1. Consider the manual override to go directly to thermostat and be equal to the controller.

Draw the Class diagram and the Sequence diagram for these concepts,evaluate and see if they are indeed improvements:

- cohesion - coupling - size