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Applied use of Ehrenfeucht Fraisse Games — Model Transformation

The Object-Role Model Unifying Metamodel

Victor Morgante
8 min readNov 8, 2021

I’ve released my research publicly so that it can be enjoyed by all, link below:

Applied Use of Ehrenfeucht Fraisse Games in Conceptual Model Management and Model Transformation

In essence, the thesis is that the model transformation technology behind the Boston Architecture behind the Boston Multi-Model Conceptual Modelling software and as aspired to by the likes of the Object Management Group (OMG) et al, is best described generically as an applied Ehrenfeucht Fraisse Game (EFG). A generic core metamodel (per Fagin et al) is exploited by way of differentiated interpretation using EFGs.

Object-Role Modeling and Ambiguity — Exploited for gain

The Boston Architecture relies on Object-Role Modeling, and theorems under Finite Model Theory (FMT) in general, being ambiguous when viewed through the lens of an Ehrenfeucht Fraisse Game. This ambiguity can be exploited for productive gain in transformation of conceptual models from one language to another. Common points of structure between different conceptual modelling languages become homomorphic points of structure between differentiated interpretations of the same set of theorems under a common metamodel.

The overall picture of the architecture is below:

The Conceptual Modeling Meta-Model (CMML) and Boston Architecture. Image by author.

In essence, what the architecture allows for is the storage of structural and procedural models within the ORM metamodel, and model transformation by way of differentiated interpretation of the same theorems of/under a common unifying metamodel.

There is a general misconception that Object-Role Modeling is unambiguous, but this is not true; especially of ORM version 2 or ORM2. In other articles I have documented the various ways in which Object-Role Modeling can be ambiguous and especially without software to disambiguate ORM models. I don’t see this as necessarily as a bad thing, because the Boston Architecture relies on ORM being ambiguous under Ehrenfeucht Fraisse Games to achieve model transformation.

The main reason why Object-Role Modeling can be ambiguous, and that exploited, is because logic is not a function…

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Victor Morgante
Victor Morgante

Written by Victor Morgante

@FactEngine_AI. Manager, Architect, Data Scientist, Researcher at www.factengine.ai and www.perceptible.ai

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