Towards a Meta-model for Problem Frames: Conceptual Issues and Tool Building Support

Problem frames are an approach to requirements modeling that is gaining increasing attention and popularity. The approach provides useful concepts and methodological guidelines. However, problem frames are not equipped with an expressive and complete notation and they lack tools support. These limitations can be addressed by introducing a suitable meta-model to formally define the notation. In this way it is also possible to identify the aspects that are not covered by the problem frames notation and to provide hooks for user-defined extensions. The meta-model is also expected to support the underlying analysis methodology. Furthermore, it can provide the basis for building a tool supporting both the editing of problem frames and the other activities associated with the approach (frame concern, composition, etc.). This paper presents a meta-model that addresses the former issues and was used for building a tool with the EMF/GMF technology.