Use Case Specification - Get Course Information

Name of Use Case: Get Course Information

Project: e-Portfolio for Lifelong Learning Reference Model

Author	Alan Paull
Creation Date	14 June 2006
Last Update Date	17 July 2006
Version	Draft 0.2
Diagram	Use Case diagram

Description
The Actor (e-Portfolio engine) fetches data on specific courses, using the Course Information System, which returns data for the courses meeting the search criteria.

Narrative

This use case starts when the e-Portfolio engine receives search criteria to enable a search for HE courses using the e-Portfolio enabled course discovery service.

The e-Portfolio engine sends search criteria to the Course Information System, which in response returns courses information for matching courses. At a minimum this will the course identifiers.

This use case ends when search results are received.

Conditions

Preconditions	Course Information System is e-Portfolio enabled. Location of Course Information System is known and accessible. Match between search criteria provided by ePortfolio Engine and required by Course Information System.
Successful end condition	Course list viewable on screen. No storage required.
Failed end condition	No courses returned.

Primary Actors	e-Portfolio engine
Secondary Actors	None

Trigger

Learner asks e-Portfolio engine to search for courses.

Included Use Cases

None

Main Flow

e-Portfolio EngineCourse Information System
1. Validates the search criteria inputs using Data Validation Rules [xref].2. Connects to Course Information System.3. Sends search criteria to Course Information System.4. Searches data using search criteria.5. Returns search results, according to Business Rules [xref].6. Receives search results.

Branching Action

e-Portfolio EngineCourse Information System
5.1 No courses found. Returns no results with appropriate message5.2 Displays message re no courses found.