Towards a semantics of Problem Frames

Hall, Jon G. and Rapanotti, Lucia (2003). Towards a semantics of Problem Frames. Technical Report 2003/05; Department of Computing, The Open University.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21954/ou.ro.0001600e

Abstract

This paper presents a framework for understanding Problem Frames [5, 6], their components, their frame concerns, and the flexibility that is inherent in their definition. Problem Frames classify software development problems. Of particular utility is their intuitive graphical notation that facilitates communication between software designer and problem owner. This provides costs as well as benefits and, as is the case with many such graphical notations, a (formal) semantics is needed to underpin meaning. To the best of our knowledge a semantics of Problem Frames is missing from the literature. In this paper we begin the definition of such a semantics. Our semantics places Problem Frames within the framework for Requirements Engineering of Zave and Jackson and its subsequent formalization in the Reference Model of Gunter et al.