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Version: 1.0.7

The Overall Model

The paper presents a formal mathematical model of GUI automation that provides a rigorous foundation for the framework. This model unifies the core components into a cohesive system, specifying how the system perceives the GUI, manages state, performs actions, and navigates the interface.

Formal Definition​

The overall model of GUI automation is defined as a tuple (Ξ, Ω, a, M, τ, §).

The components are:

  • Ξ: The visible GUI, representing the current pixel output of the screen. This is the real-time data the system uses to perceive and interact with the interface.
  • Ω: The state structure, which is an abstraction of the GUI environment. This is the developer-defined map of all relevant elements, states, and transitions.
  • a: The action model, for performing individual, atomic operations on the GUI like clicking or typing.
  • M: The state management system, responsible for maintaining the set of currently active states.
  • τ: The transition model, for executing sequences of actions (processes) that lead to changes between states.
  • §: The path traversal model, used for finding and executing a path through the state graph to reach a target state.

Architecture and Data Flow​

The architecture separates environment representation (Domain Knowledge) from interaction mechanisms (Strategic Knowledge).

  • The Action Model (a) bridges both domains. It receives input from the user's defined state elements, acts on the visible GUI (Ξ), and provides results that inform the State Management System (M).
  • The State Management System (M) tracks the set of active states based on information from actions and transitions.
  • The Path Traversal Model (§) takes the current active states from M and uses the map provided by the State Structure (Ω) to find and execute a path to a target state.

This architecture allows the framework to handle the complex, reusable strategic logic while the user's application focuses only on domain knowledge and business logic.