Using Design Patterns for Refactoring Real-World Models

Many software development methodologies are based on modeling the real world. In some of these methodologies, real-world models are gradually transformed into software models, while in others, the real world is only considered as a preliminary source of insight into the physical business domain. Real-world modeling was pushed to the sidelines due to anomalies in real-world modeling approaches; however, with the advent of the model-driven architecture (MDA), real-world conceptual modeling is likely to regain its importance. We propose a method for using design patterns in the context of model transformation, where real-world models are refactored through application of these patterns. Although the patterns are not applied in their original contexts, we show through examples that they are equally applicable to real-world models.