An Example of Use-Case-driven Conceptual Design of Relational Database

In this paper we present an approach to the use-case-driven conceptual design of the relational database completely based on the Unified Modeling Language (UML). We base the initial conceptual model on the standard UML business profile. In the first phase, business use cases are identified and described by macroactivity diagrams. After that, detailed business activity diagrams are designed by populating macroactivity diagrams with used business objects, object flows and worker's responsibilities. Based on detailed business activity diagrams, related business class diagrams are designed, and finally integrated into a single business class diagram that describes the static structure of the entire business system. In the last phase, that integral business class diagram is mapped into a system class diagram that represents the initial conceptual model of the target relational database. Therefore, some transformations of the initial conceptual model are proposed and illustrated. Thanks to the unified notation and integrated treatment of business modeling and database design, the proposed approach unifies and accelerates the implementation of the information system. This approach is illustrated by taking a visa issuing system as an example.