System Model

A System Model is an abstract composite entity that represents/simulates some aspect of a referent system.

• AKA: Systems Model, System Representation, Conceptualization/Representation.
• Context:
  • It can (typically) be produced by System Modeling Task.
  • It can (typically) represent System Structure through component diagrams and architectural views.
  • It can (typically) capture System Behavior through state diagrams and behavioral views.
  • It can (typically) describe System Interface via interface diagrams and interaction views.
  • It can (typically) define System Process using process diagrams and workflow views.
  • It can (often) be composed of Reference Entities and some of the Relations between them.
  • It can (often) include a Model Mapping Function that maps external objects into the model.
  • It can (often) help an Agent to Predict something about system behavior.
  • It can (often) be measured in terms of Accuracy and can be ambiguous.
  • ...
  • It can range from being an Informal System Model (such as an informal specification) to being a Formal System Model (such as an ontology).
  • It can range from being a Physical System Model to being an Abstract System Model.
  • It can range from being an Elegant System Model to being a Crude System Model.
  • It can range from being a Simple System Model to being a System Metamodel, which may be a modeling language.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Physical System Models, such as:
    • Planetary Models for celestial systems.
    • Physical Maps for geographical systems.
    • Chemical Element Charts for periodic systems.
  • Mathematical System Models, such as:
    • Statistical System Models for probabilistic systems.
    • Climate System Models for weather systems.
    • Logical Data Models for information systems.
  • Semantic System Models, such as:
    • Ontology Models for knowledge systems.
    • Process Models for workflow systems.
    • Design Models for engineered systems.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Proofs, which demonstrate logical truths rather than represent systems.
  • Entitys such as molecules, which are actual objects rather than representations.
  • Document Models, which describe documentation rather than actual systems.
• See: Knowledge Representation, System Modeling Task, System Analysis, System Test.

---

---

References

2014

• http://www.w3.org/2013/06/model-ref-20130418.html
  • A "model" refers to an abstract description of the composition and relative dynamic behaviour of the sub-parts of some system

2009

• (Wikipedia, 2009) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_(physical)
  • A physical model is a smaller or larger physical copy of an object. The object being modelled may be small (for example, an atom) or large (for example, the Solar System).
• (Wikipedia, 2009) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_(science)
  • Scientific modeling is the process of generating abstract, conceptual, graphical and or mathematical models. Science offers a growing collection of methods, and theory about all kinds of specialized scientific modeling.
• (Wikipedia, 2009) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_(logic)
  • In mathematics, model theory is the study of (classes of) mathematical structures such as groups, fields, graphs or even models of set theory using tools from mathematical logic. Model theory has close ties to algebra and universal algebra.
• (Wikipedia, 2009) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_(model_theory)
  • In universal algebra and in model theory, a structure is a type of formal interpretation which consists of an underlying set along with a collection of finitary functions and relations which are defined on it. ...

1998

• (Kohavi & Provost, 1998) ⇒ Ron Kohavi, and Foster Provost. (1998). “Glossary of Terms.” In: Machine Leanring 30(2-3).
  • Model: A structure and corresponding interpretation that summarizes or partially summarizes a set of data, for description or prediction. Most inductive algorithms generate models that can then be used as classifiers, as regressors, as patterns for human consumption, and/or as input to subsequent stages of the KDD process.

1993

• (Gruber, 1993) ⇒ Tom Gruber. (1993). “A translation approach to portable ontology specifications." Knowledge Acquisition, 2(5):199--220.
  • A conceptualization is an abstract, simplified view of the world that we wish to represent for some purpose. Every knowledge base, knowledge-based system, or knowledge-level agent is committed to some conceptualization, explicitly or implicitly. An ontology is an explicit specification of a conceptualization.".

---