Experiences in applying formal methods to the analysis of software and system requirements

• Authors: D. Hamilton;R. Covington;J. Kelly;C. Kirkwood;M. Thomas;A. R. Flora-Holmquist;M. G. Staskauskas;S. P. Miller;M. Srivas;G. Cleland;D. MacKenzie
• Venue: WIFT '95 Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on Industrial-Strength Formal Specification Techniques
• Year: 1995

In an effort to improve the quality of software and system requirements, formal methods (FM) is being investigated by NASA because evidence existed that FM is useful in creating consistent and verifiable specifications. This investigation of FM consists of trial projects that are used to gather data on FM's cost-effectiveness and to demonstrate this effectiveness to prospective users. These trial projects were specifically constructed to maximize the likelihood that requirements analysts will recognize the benefits of FM and integrate it into their existing approaches. A key aspect of these trial-projects is the make-up of the teams which influenced the planning, execution, and evaluation of results. Through these projects, much has been learned about the use of FM and its potential for being accepted as a viable way to improve requirements analysis. on Pages: 46 - 60 This Conference was Held : 5-8 April1995 1995 ISBN: 0-8186-7005-3 IEEE Catalog Number: 95TH8051 Total Pages: viii+172 References Cited: 29 Accession Number: 4923577 Abstract: Despite significant and impressive technical progress with formal methods in computer software development and hardware design, our research shows that there are major structural issues to be addressed if formal methods are to be exploited in a broad industry base in the near future. As well as a variety of particular inhibiting factors, there are deep structural problems with the formal methods market place. It is typically technology-led rather than application-led, and restricted by the organisational requirements for successful formal methods use. The broad recommendations, and the specific activities proposed for a UK strategic programme will, we contend, contribute to the identification and development of a market structure which would help create a "virtuous circle" of interacting. This will naturally stimulate activities which will overcome many of the shortcomings and inhibiting factors currently observed. Subject Terms: formal specification; technology transfer; management of change; software management; inhibiting factors; market structure; industrial uptake; formal methods; computer software development; hardware design; deep structural problems Proceedings of1995 IEEE Workshop on Industrial-Strength Formal Specification Techniques This Paper Appears in :Industrial-Strength Formal Specification Techniques,1995. Proceedings., Workshop on This Conference was Held : 5-8 April1995 1995 ISBN: 0-8186-7005-3 IEEE Catalog Number: 95TH8051 Total Pages: viii+172 Accession Number: 4923573 Abstract: The following topics were dealt with: AAMP5 microprocessor verification; architectural specification of an avionic subsystem; software requirements analysis; formal methods; C++ library for specification implementation; system critical flight software verification; industrial design verification; timing analysis of real-time systems; real-time reactive systems specification; finite state machines; reactive systems software; railway signalling; and LOTOS specification. Subject Terms: formal specification; specification languages; formal verification; hardware description languages; real-time systems; AAMP5; microprocessor verification; architectural specification; avionic subsystem; software requirements analysis; formal methods; C++ library; system critical flight software verification; industrial design verification; timing analysis; real-time systems; real-time reactive systems specification; finite state machines; reactive systems software; railway signalling; LOTOS specification The architectural specification of an avionic subsystem - Barroca, L.M.; Fitzgerald, J.S.; Spencer, L. Dept. of Comput., Open Univ., Milton Keynes, UKon Pages: 17 - 29 This Conference was Held : 5-8 April1995 1995 ISBN: 0-8186-7005-3 IEEE Catalog Number: 95TH8051 Total Pages: viii+172 References Cited: 15 Accession Number: 4923575 Abstract: The work of the British Aerospace Dependable Computing Systems Centre includes the development of formal techniques for use in defining and tracing requirements for software systems at the system architecture level. A basic repertoire of techniques proposed so far includes the graphical representation of timing requirements allied to model-oriented specifications of functionality. This paper gives an overview of these techniques and reports on a small study in their application conducted by British Aerospace Defence. The study uses a realistic example of an avionics system: the pilot data entry system for a waypoint database. The example is described with some technical detail. Formally analysing a timing requirement for the rate of data entry yields local timing requirements for the cockpit equipments. Conclusions assess the value of these techniques, as perceived by BAe systems developers and propose further work in providing tool support. Subject Terms: aircraft computers; formal specification; safety-critical software; real-time systems; architectural specification; avionic subsystem; formal techniques; system architecture level; timing requirements; model-oriented specifications; functionality; pilot data entry system; waypoint database; local timing requirements Timing analysis of industrial real-time systems - Campos, S.; Clarke, E.; Marrero, W.; Minea, M. Sch. of Comput. Sci., Carnegie Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA, USA