Modeling user perceived use case affinity

1. A UML design system for creating a UML model of a user interface environment, comprising:

at least one computer system, including:

a system for defining use cases within the UML model, wherein the use cases are independent of each other;

a system for associating an affinity representing a user-perceived relationship between use cases within the UML model, wherein the affinity is directional from an affinity use case to a target use case;

a system for assigning a weight to the affinity within the UML model, wherein the system for assigning the weight assigns a first weight that dictates a strength of the affinity from a first use case to a second use case and assigns a second, separate weight that dictates a strength of the affinity from the second use case to the first use case;

a system for incorporating affinity data into the UML model to influence use cases to be displayed in the user interface environment, wherein the affinity data includes assigned weights; and

a system for determining whether the affinity use case should be appeared on a selected display type based on the affinity data.

2. The UML design system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface environment enables multiple use cases and includes an environment selected from the group consisting of: a website, a visual interface, an aural interface, and a tactile interface.

3. The UML design system of claim 1 , wherein the affinity data provides a title for a use case when the use case appears as an affinity use case for a target use case.

4. A program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium for creating a UML model of a user interface environment, the program product comprising program code for:

defining use cases within the UML model, wherein the use case are independent of each other;

associating an affinity representing a user-perceived relationship between use cases within the UML model, wherein the affinity is directional from an affinity use case to a target use case;

assigning a weight to the affinity within the UML model, wherein the assigning the weight assigns a first weight that dictates a strength of the affinity from a first use case to a second use case and assigns a second, separate weight that dictates a strength of the affinity from the second use case to the first use case;

incorporating affinity data into the UML model to influence use cases to be displayed in the user interface environment, wherein the affinity data includes assigned weights; and

determining whether the affinity use case should be appeared on a selected display type based on the affinity data.

5. The program product of claim 4 , wherein the user interface environment enables multiple use cases and includes an environment selected from the group consisting of: a website, a visual interface, an aural interface, and a tactile interface.

6. The program product of claim 4 , wherein the affinity data provides a title for a use case when the use case appears as an affinity use case for a target use case.

7. A computer-implemented method for creating a UML model of a user interface environment, comprising:

defining use cases within the UML model, wherein the use cases are independent of each other;

associating an affinity representing a user-perceived relationship between use cases within the UML model, wherein the affinity is directional from an affinity use case to a target use case;

assigning a weight to the affinity within the UML model, wherein the assigning the weight assigns a first weight that dictates a strength of the affinity from a first use case to a second use case and assigns a second, separate weight that dictates a strength of the affinity from the second use case to the first use case;

incorporate affinity data into the UML model to influence use cases to be displayed in the user interface environment, wherein the affinity data includes assigned weights; and

determine whether the affinity use case should be appeared on a selected display type based on the affinity data.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the user interface environment enables multiple use cases and includes an environment selected from the group consisting of: a website, a visual interface, an aural interface, and a tactile interface.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the affinity data provides a title for a use case when the use case appears as an affinity use case for a target use case.

10. A method for deploying a system for creating a UML model of a user interface environment, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to:

define use cases within the UML model, wherein the use cases are independent of each other;

associate an affinity representing a user-perceived relationship between use cases within the UML model, wherein the affinity is directional from an affinity user case to a target use case;

assign a weight to the affinity within the UML model, wherein the assigning the weight assigns a first weight that dictates a strength or the affinity from a first use case to a second use case and assigns, a second, separate weight that dictates a strength of the affinity from the second use case to the first use case;

incorporate affinity data into the UML model to influence use cases to be displayed in the user interface environment, wherein the affinity data includes assigned weights; and

determine whether the affinity use case should be appeared on a selected display type based on the affinity data.