Evaluating conformance of UML models to design patterns

In this paper, we describe an approach to checking conformance of UML class diagrams to design patterns. The technique provides a set of checks that evaluate syntactic and semantic pattern conformance. Syntactic pattern conformance is concerned with structural conformance of a class diagram to the structural properties of a pattern. Semantic pattern conformance is concerned with conformance of invariants and pre- and post-conditions in a class diagram to semantic pattern properties. A class diagram is said to conform a pattern when it acquires both syntactic and semantic conformance.