Modelling time-outs between different applications

Question

I would like to model an application architecture and the time-outs between all the application (e.g. between application A and B there is a time-out of 10 seconds and that between all applications). Which modelling language should I best use for this that it is clear? I don't think UML diagrams will do the trick...

Thanks.

Answer 1

It depends on the purpose of your model.

Business oriented process orchestration

For orchestration between several tasks/activities of several applications of a complex process, you could use Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN), which is a standard of the OMG.

There you can model event-based "gateways" to control flow of control or "messages" between activities. An event could be in your case a timer or a error (e.g. time-out errors) depending on the desired emphasis.

Remark: THere are several third party tools that use BPMN models to generate BPEL in order to to make the modelled process orchestration exectutable.

Technical model

If you want to show interaction between applications, but not necessarily modelled as business processes (user perspective), you could also really consider UML:

• activity diagrams can present event actions and also timers
• eventually, sequence diagrams could present timing constraints and conditions. But intuitively I doubt it's the best choice for your question here.

Answer 2

Christophe's answer is correct. However, you can show time out with basic activity diagrams by using interruptible regions and an interrupt flow like this:

Of course BPMN can do that much better.