Feature Interaction Filtering with Use Case Maps at Requirements Stage.

Abstract

. This paper proposes a new Feature Interaction (FI) filtering method at the requirements level. FI filtering is to screen out some irrelevant feature combinations before the FI detection process, by using simple indications that certain combinations are likely to cause FI. Toachieve this, we extensively utilize a requirement notation method, called Use Case Maps (UCMs), which helps designers to visualize a global picture of call scenarios. Individual features are added to the basic call by using the stub plug-in concept of UCMs. That is, a set of UCMs describing the feature's functionality are plugged into certain parts (called stubs) of the basic call scenario in a "root" UCM. Thus, each feature is characterized by the stub configuration. Then, we propose a composition method of different stub configurations in terms of a matrix, called a stub configuration matrix. Finally we present an FI filtering method for a given combination, which gives a verdict: (a) FI occurs, ...