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I think this is the reference you want:
Emulate a Class Feature: Sometimes you need to use a class feature to activate a magic item. In this case, your effective level in the emulated class equals your Use Magic Device check result minus 20. This skill does not let you actually use the class feature of another class. It just lets you activate items as if you had that class feature. If the class whose feature you are emulating has an alignment requirement, you must meet it, either honestly or by emulating an appropriate alignment with a separate Use Magic Device check (see above).
I think the RAI is to use something you can't normally use, but the rules don't read that way. I am pressing the FAQ button. :)
The answer is yes! You can emulate any class feature needed to activate an item, there is no exclusion of class features that you may already have. It would not be fair that a 10th rogue could activate the staff as a 15th level caster with the same role that a 10th level sorcerer got, but the sorcerer can only activate it at 10th. That is not reasonable, logical, or in any of the rules. If it is good for one, it is good for all even if it smells of cheese.
You also missed this, which is the general rule for the skill.
Check: You can use this skill to read a spell or to activate a magic item. Use Magic Device lets you use a magic item as if you had the spell ability or class features of another class, as if you were a different race, or as if you were of a different alignment.
You are not emulating another class. That supports my last post also.
What an odd situation:
"So, somebody else, a non-sorcerer, even a non-spellcaster, can pretend to do what you do, sorcery, and they can pretend to do it way better than you, a sorcerer, can, but you're already are a sorcerer so obviously you cannot pretend to be better at sorcery than all those other non-spellcasting fakers can."
However, by RAW, this may be true:
"Use Magic Device lets you use a magic item as if you had the spell ability ... of another class."
However, I think a clever sorcerer could get around it by using UMD to emulate the spell ability of a Wizard class to ativate his level 25 Chain Lightning staff.
All that said, UMD has lots of different uses, and I think the most important thing to do is select the use that most closely applies to what we're trying to do. UMD has a category for "Use a Wand, Staff, or other spell-trigger item". I think we really must choose that one instead of "Emulate a class feature" because it is the UMD usage that is most appropriate for using a staff. Therefore, the DC should be 20 to use the staff exactly as if you had the spell on your spell list - that doesn't give the ability to emulate higher level, just a flat DC to use the staff at your level, like any other staff user.
Ok, if this is withstanding, does this mean an oracle can emulate a ring of revelation to be a higher oracle level than they are? There was another thread about getting BAB above your character level with the ancestral spirit revelation, but what if you emulate say a battle mystery with a check of 36 to get a BAB of 16?
Given the description of the skill I would say yes. It could require multiple UMD checks depending on your build.
As for the line that says "class features of another class" it is there as broad as daylight but it seems to be under the general fluff (and I use that term loosely) of the skill. Most skills have game mechanics under the "Check" line but UMD seems to put all of the mechanics much lower than where that line is listed. I guess if the developers and powers that be want to clarify it (if they have not already), it is up to them. It just does not seem right that I can emulate your class but not my class that I have worked so hard at advancing. Either way it comes down to a mechanic and how you see that mechanic operating.
No you can't emulate a feature you already have, and the intent is most likely to just get it high enough to activate the item.
With that aside:
Use a Wand, Staff, or Other Spell Trigger Item: Normally, to use a wand, you must have the wand's spell on your class spell list. This use of the skill allows you to use a wand as if you had a particular spell on your class spell list. Failing the roll does not expend a charge.
A ring of revelation allows an oracle to gain access to a revelation from your mystery that you don't have assuming you are of a high enough level.
The ring makes you jump through a lot of hoops even if you are an oracle, so it makes it hard to UMD it.
I think the intent is not to be able to, but it would be better to get an official answer.
Your effective level for the purposes of determining what class features you can emulate is your UMD-20.
We know what it says. That is there to determine if you qualify to activate the item. As an example if I don't get class ability X until level 9 then I need a 29. That much is already in the book.
edit:I see we agree. Sorry about that. :)
Ok, if this has already been debated then I'll accept it as fact, but if I reach certain caps of the ability than does it trigger? Say there's an ability that gives resistance 5 at level 10 but resistance 10 at 20. If I get my UMD total to 20 do I get the second part of the ability?
That I don't know. I would most likely allow it depending on how the magic item was written up, but that is no promise. The idea of another class out doing the original class with their own class feature just looks bad to me.
I don't even think that ring can be UMD'd per RAW since UMD is for other classes, but I would most likely keep it to 1/day.
If we want to get into semantics, as long as I'm also using it to emulate another race or alignment for the purposes of that ring, an oracle can UMD an oracle ring.
A more powerful example would be an oracle of any level able to get a UMD of 35 using a 16000 ring to summon an elder ice elemental 2/day.
The ring does not care about alignment so I am missing your point.
You could purchase or create the ring with an alignment or race restriction, this would allow an oracle to UMD as a oracle.
Well he would still have to emulate the specific class feature needed like he does now. Adding a race or alignment restriction only adds another requirement. It does not overrule the other one.
As an example if you have to simulate class ability X, and another version of the item also calls for an alignment to be required then you have to meet both requirements, not just one or the other.
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I'm not really sure that emulating the "spells" class ability would give you a higher caster level for using a staff - staff use is specifically called out under spell trigger items in UMD. Since you don't actually gain the ability in question, the level line is there to make it tougher to emulate higher-level class abilities, not improve the ones you already have.
Also I don't think you can emulate a different choice on a class ability - so if you are an oracle, you already have the mystery and revelation class features, I don't think you can "emulate" having different ones. Can a fighter without the Cleave feat emulate having it to activate mighty cleaving? After all, bonus combat feats are a fighter class ability.
UMD is already a very powerful skill. It doesn't need to have more utility added to it.