ISO 24156-1:2014

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 24156-1
First edition
2014-10-01
Graphic notations for concept
modelling in terminology work and its
relationship with UML —
Part 1:
Guidelines for using UML notation in
terminology work
Notations graphiques pour la modélisation des concepts en
terminologie et ses relations avec UML —
Partie 1: Lignes directrices pour l’application de la notation UML dans
le travail terminologique
Reference number
©
ISO 2014
© ISO 2014
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ii © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Abbreviated terms . 3
5 Mapping UML symbols to terminological concepts . 3
5.1 General . 3
5.2 Concept . 3
5.3 Concept system . 3
5.4 Attributes (generalization) and characteristics (generic relation) . 4
5.5 Type of characteristics and criterion of subdivision . 5
5.6 Concept relations . 9
6 Common features of UML used to extend concept modelling .18
6.1 General .18
6.2 Multiplicity .18
6.3 Constraint .19
Annex A (informative) Table of correspondence between ISO 1087-1 concepts and their
adopted symbols in the ISO 24156-1 user-defined UML profile .21
Bibliography .24
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
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constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical Barriers
to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 37, Terminology and other language and content
resources, Subcommittee SC 1, Principles and methods.
This first edition of ISO 24156-1 cancels and replaces ISO/TR 24156:2008, which has been technically revised.
ISO 24156 consists of the following parts, under the general title Graphic notations for concept modelling
in terminology work and its relationship with UML:
— Part 1: Guidelines for using UML notation in terminology work
iv © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Terminology work combines elements from many theoretical approaches which concern the processing,
ordering, and presentation of knowledge. The basic method of terminology work is concept analysis,
which aims to achieve a comprehensive description and presentation of concepts in a subject field.
Traditionally, the results of concept analysis in terminology are presented in the form of one or more
concept diagrams and a set of terms with textual definitions.
In object-oriented programming, graphic techniques are used to describe entity types which are
characterized by certain properties and behaviour. The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a widely
used formal language which can be used for all kinds of object modelling (information modelling, data
modelling, etc.).
This part of ISO 24156 describes the application of UML symbols by providing a user-defined UML profile
for presenting the results of concept analysis. This UML profile re-uses UML symbols independent of
their normal UML semantics to represent terminological concept diagrams in accordance with the
principles of ISO 1087-1 and ISO 704. The use of UML symbols is not meant to become a replacement
for traditional concept diagrams, but is intended to be an alternative and supplementary notation. This
part of ISO 24156 is meant to promote the use of concept analysis when developing concept diagrams
(including concept models), information models, and data models.
The core text describes in which way a user-defined UML profile represents concept diagrams. Annex A
contains a table of correspondence between concepts of ISO 1087-1 and suggested representations in UML.
ISO/IEC 19505-1 and ISO/IEC 19505-2 are referenced in this part of ISO 24156. In ISO/IEC 19505-1 and
ISO/IEC 19505-2, there is no “Terms and definitions” clause. Instead, every UML concept is described in
the normative text. When a reference to ISO/IEC 19505-2 is given in the “Terms and definitions” clause,
the definition given in this part of ISO 24156 is adapted from the descriptive text in ISO/IEC 19505-2.
Therefore, the definition is noted “Adapted from ISO/IEC 19505-2”.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 24156-1:2014(E)
Graphic notations for concept modelling in terminology
work and its relationship with UML —
Part 1:
Guidelines for using UML notation in terminology work
1 Scope
This part of ISO 24156 gives guidelines for using a subset of UML symbols independent of their normal
UML meaning, to represent concepts in concept models that result from concept analysis. It describes
how UML symbols can be used for that. A UML profile designed for this purpose is used to represent
concepts and concept relations in terminology work.
This part of ISO 24156 does not describe UML and its general use in depth. These matters are covered in
ISO/IEC 19505-1 and ISO/IEC 19505-2.
This part of ISO 24156 does not describe the principles and methods of terminology work. This is
covered in ISO 704.
This part of ISO 24156 does not define the fundamental concepts of terminology work. This is covered
in ISO 1087-1.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 704:2009, Terminology work — Principles and methods
ISO 1087-1:2000, Terminology work — Vocabulary — Part 1: Theory and application
ISO 10241-1, Terminological entries in standards — Part 1: General requirements and examples of presentation
ISO/IEC 19505-1:2012, Information technology — Object Management Group Unified Modeling Language
(OMG UML) — Part 1: Infrastructure
ISO/IEC 19505-2:2012, Information technology — Object Management Group Unified Modeling Language
(OMG UML) — Part 2: Superstructure
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 1087-1 and the following apply.
3.1
concept diagram
graphic representation of a concept system
[SOURCE: ISO 1087-1:2000, 3.2.12]
3.2
concept model
concept diagram (ISO 1087-1:2000, 3.2.12) formed by means of a formal language (3.6)
3.3
concept model view
image of a defined part of a concept model (3.2)
3.4
concept system
set of concepts structured according to the relations among them
[SOURCE: ISO 1087-1:2000, 3.2.11]
3.5
constraint
semantic restriction of model elements
Note 1 to entry: Adapted from ISO/IEC 19505-2:2012, 7.3.10.
Note 2 to entry: A constraint is used to restrict the possible options for a class or a relationship. In concept
modelling, constraints can be used to show how concepts/relationships interact and how they are delimited.
EXAMPLE In a generic relation, no more specific concepts than those depicted are possible [constraint {complete}].
3.6
formal language
language whose rules are explicitly established before its use
Note 1 to entry: A formal language is not meant to be spoken. Its purpose is to assure exact communication of
information, e.g. between computer systems and between man and computer.
EXAMPLE Web Ontology Language (OWL).
3.7
multiplicity
when used in class diagrams constraint (3.5) on the range of allowed instances of an object or an attribute
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 14776-151:2010, modified — By replacing “indication of” with “constraint on”, this
terminological entry is made consistent with the other terms and definitions in this part of ISO 24156.]
Note 1 to entry: In concept modelling, a multiplicity constraint specifies how many objects depicted by a certain
concept can be related to the objects depicted by another concept, i.e. in an associative or in a partitive relation.
EXAMPLE 1 A characteristic of a month is that it is a period of 28 to 31 days (28.31). Thus, the multiplicity of
day with respect to month is “28.31”.
EXAMPLE 2 A mouse (pointing device) can or cannot have a ball, depending on whether it is a mechanical
or optical mouse. Thus, it has zero balls or one ball (0.1). In that case, the multiplicity itself is a criterion of
subdivision, as a mechanical mouse has exactly one ball (1).
Note 2 to entry: Multiplicity applies to attributes as well.
3.8
notation
set of symbols, and the rules for their use, for the representation of data
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 2382-5:1999, 05.01.01]
3.9
symbol
graphic representation of a concept that has meaning in a specific context
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 2382-1:1993, 01.02.07]
2 © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

4 Abbreviated terms
UML Unified Modeling Language
5 Mapping UML symbols to terminological concepts
5.1 General
This clause describes how concepts defined in ISO 1087-1 can be represented in concept modelling by
means of a limited set of UML symbols. Features which are not described in this clause are outside the
scope of this part of ISO 24156.
Each paragraph describes the principles according to which UML symbols can be used in concept
modelling. In this part of ISO 24156, UML symbols are only used as graphic representations, hence are
not used to equate UML semantics with ISO 1087-1 semantics.
Table A.1 visualizes ISO 1087-1 concepts and their corresponding UML symbols.
5.2 Concept
For the modelling of a concept, the UML class symbol (ISO/IEC 19505-2:2012, 7.3.7) can be adopted,
which is a solid-outline rectangle displaying the class name. The UML class name is centred in boldface
and with an initial uppercase character. (If the class name consists of more than one word, the words
are joined together and the initial character of every word is capitalized; for designations, please refer
to ISO 10241-1.) The designation (ISO 1087-1) of the concept in the user-defined UML profile is centred,
in boldface, and in lowercase, except for uppercase characters that constitute part of the normal spelling
of the term in a running text (ISO 10241-1). This applies both to individual concepts (ISO 1087-1) and to
general concepts (ISO 1087-1).
UML (ISO/IEC 19505-2:2012) ISO 1087-1 ISO 24156-1 user-deined UML
proile
concept
Class concept
designation
ClassName designation
Figure 1 — Class (class name) and concept (designation)
5.3 Concept system
A concept model (see 3.2) is meant to depict and represent a concept system (see 3.4). A graphic tool
can store the concept model in a formal language (see 3.6), making it possible to transform, using a
machine-readable format, the concept model to data modelling, information modelling, and software
development systems.
EXAMPLE Concept model for pointing devices (see Figure 2).
Figure 2 — Concept model that depicts generic relations for pointing devices
5.4 Attributes (generalization) and characteristics (generic relation)
For concept modelling using UML symbols, the UML class symbol is used (see Figure 1), which is a
rectangle. In it, the top compartment displays the class name (centred, in boldface, and capitalized),
and the middle one a list of attribute names (left justified, plain face, and lowercase) and attribute types
(left justified, plain face, and capitalized). The bottom compartment in the UML class symbol, used to
show class operations in ISO/IEC 19505-2:2012, is not used to represent ISO 1087-1 concepts, and is
therefore not shown in this International Standard. To convert the class symbol to an ISO-compatible
modelling template, a concept is modelled by a rectangle which has equally two compartments, with the
top one displaying the designation (in accordance with ISO 10241-1) and the bottom one displaying the
characteristics. The UML string attribute = value represents the characteristics.
Figure 3 — Attributes and characteristics in UML and in the ISO 24156-1 user-defined UML profile
An ellipsis indicates that there are elements which are not shown in the concept model (see Figure 4).
4 © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

Figure 4 — Attributes and characteristics in UML and in the ISO 24156-1 user-defined UML profile
5.5 Type of characteristics and criterion of subdivision
A type of characteristics is defined as a category of characteristics which serves as the criterion of
subdivision when establishing concept systems. The criterion of subdivision is defined as a criterion
according to which a superordinate concept is divided into subordinate concepts. With UML notation,
a criterion of subdivision can be represented using two generalization set notations (ISO/IEC 19505-
2:2012, 7.3.20) (see Figures 5 and 6).
To visualize classes and their relationships in a class diagram, together with their criteria of subdivision,
UML uses two different notations that can be considered equivalent to the criterion of subdivision in ISO
terminology (ISO 1087-1; ISO 704). Either a common generalization arrowhead is used in combination
with the name of the relevant generalization set, or a dashed line is drawn across those lines with separate
arrowheads that belong to the same generalization set (ISO/IEC 19505-2:2012, 7.3.20). To represent the
above UML notation with an equivalent ISO notation (ISO 704:2009, 5.5.2.2.1), the criterion of subdivision
is displayed in full wording, either in combination with a common generalization arrowhead or with a
dashed line across separate generalization arrowheads (see Figures 5, 6 and 7).
The ISO notation adopts th
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