IEC 62559-3:2017

Overview

IEC 62559-3:2017 defines a common XML serialized format for use case template artefacts - specifically the use case template, Actor library, and requirement library - to enable reliable import/export of use case information across modelling tools and repositories. Part 3 of the IEC 62559 series establishes the syntactic XML representation and the UML-based information models that underpin interoperability between different UML engineering tools and use case repositories.

Key topics and technical requirements

• XML serialization of use case artefacts: Specifies an XML syntactic format and corresponding XML Schema for exchanging use case templates, Actors and detailed requirements.
• UML information and contextual models: Defines core concepts (UseCaseCoreConcepts) as UML class diagrams and maps them to XML exchange models to ensure structural consistency.
• Model‑based development approach: Uses a model-driven process to generate XML schemas automatically from UML models and to produce exchange profiles.
• Defined exchange formats: Produces three key XML exchange formats - Use Case library, Actor library, and Requirement library - with documented classes, attributes and associations (e.g., Activity, Actor, Scenario, Requirement, UseCase).
• Interfaces for interoperability: Establishes how repositories and UML tools should exchange data so XML payloads can be interpreted and rendered as graphical UML use cases.
• Documentation and artifacts: The standard includes class diagrams, package diagrams, tables of attributes/associations and XML Schema illustrations to support implementers.

Practical applications and who uses it

• Systems engineers and requirements engineers - to capture and exchange structured use cases and requirements across teams, projects and toolchains.
• Software tool vendors and integrators - to implement import/export connectors, ensuring compatibility among modelling tools, repositories and UML editors.
• Standards developers and technical committees - to analyze requirements and map functional scenarios consistently across organizational or committee boundaries.
• Large system projects and cross‑organizational collaborations - to maintain a single source of truth for Actors, use cases and requirements, enabling traceability and reuse.

Benefits include improved interoperability, repeatable exchange of structured use case data, and support for graphical representation in UML tools.

Related standards and references

• IEC 62559-1 - background, methodology and rationale for the use case methodology (refer to this for conceptual guidance).
• Relevant UML and XML Schema best practices for tool implementation and schema validation.

Keywords: IEC 62559-3, use case methodology, XML serialized format, use case template, Actor library, requirement library, UML information model, data exchange, interoperability, use case repository.