A Configurable UML Based Use Case Modeling Metamodel

There is a variety of approaches to use case modeling, especially regarding their textual description as their true form. Under certain circumstances, the use of each one of these approaches may be justified. A consistent application of a particular approach requires the existence of its metamodel. It appears that use case modeling notations are close enough to each other to allow for constructing a common, configurable use case modeling metamodel. Such a metamodel is proposed in this paper. It is based on the UML metamodel elements relevant to use case adapted and extended to cover different use case modeling notations with a special attention given to the elements of use case description. The configuration options of the proposed use case modeling metamodel are identified and the actual values for Jacobson´s and Cockburn´s notation presented and discussed. The metamodel is evaluated by a configurable use case modeling tool prototype.