Developing Applications with Java™ and UML

Weighting Actors

Karner's approach begins by weighting actors. The rating is based on whether the actor is ranked as simple, average, or complex.

Simple actors fall into the category introduced in Chapter 1 of this text as external systems. In the case of Remulak Productions, good examples are the interfaces to the accounting system and the credit card system. These types of actors have a well-defined interface and are very predictable as to their reaction to the output the system in question provides or to the input it receives from the interface.

Average actors fall into the category introduced in Chapter 3 as hardware devices or timers. In the case of Remulak Productions, good examples are the timers necessary to kick off given reports and ...