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15.3.3 Interface

ProtocolStateMachines


   Interface is defined as a specialization of the general Interface, adding an association to a protocol state machine.

*Generalizations

   • Interface (from Communications ) on page 461 (merge increment)

   Description

   Since an interface specifies conformance characteristics, it does not own detailed behavior specifications. Instead, interfaces may own a protocol state machine that specifies event sequences and pre/post conditions for the operations and receptions described by the interface.

   Attributes

   No additional attributes

   Associations

   • protocol: ProtocolStateMachine [0..1] References a protocol state machine specifying the legal sequences of the invocation of the behavioral features described in the interface.

   Semantics

   Interfaces can specify behavioral constraints on the features using a protocol state machine. A classifier realizing an interface must comply with the protocol state machine owned by the interface.

   Changes from previous UML

   Interfaces can own a protocol state machine.