Challenges in the Specification of Full Contracts

  • Authors:
  • Gordon J. Pace;Gerardo Schneider

  • Affiliations:
  • Department of Computer Science, University of Malta, Malta;Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

  • Venue:
  • IFM '09 Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Integrated Formal Methods
  • Year:
  • 2009

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.00

Visualization

Abstract

The complete specification of full contracts -- contracts which include tolerated exceptions, and which enable reasoning about the contracts themselves, can be achieved using a combination of temporal and deontic concepts. In this paper we discuss the challenges in combining deontic and other relevant logics, in particular focusing on operators for choice, obligations over sequences, contrary-to-duty obligations, and how internal and external decisions may be incorporated in an action-based language for specifying contracts. We provide different viable interpretations and approaches for the development of such a sound logic and outline challenges for the future.