research-article

Generation of Execution Sequences for Modular Time Critical Systems

Authors:

Pierluigi San Pietro,

Angelo Morzenti,

Sandro MorascaAuthors Info & Claims

IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, Volume 26, Issue 2

Pages 128 - 149

https://doi.org/10.1109/32.841114

Published: 01 February 2000 Publication History

Abstract

We define methods for generating execution sequences for time-critical systems based on their modularized formal specification. An execution sequence represents a behavior of a time critical system and can be used, before the final system is built, to validate the system specification against the user requirements (specification validation) and, after the final system is built, to verify whether the implementation satisfies the specification (functional testing). Our techniques generate execution sequences in the large, in that we focus on the connections among the abstract interfaces of the modules composing a modular specification. Execution sequences in the large are obtained by composing execution sequences in the small for the individual modules. We abstract from the specification languages used for the individual modules of the system, so our techniques can also be used when the modules composing the system are specified with different formalisms. We consider the cases in which connections give rise to either circular or noncircular dependencies among specification modules. We show that execution sequence generation can be carried out successfully under rather broad conditions and we define procedures for efficient construction of execution sequences. These procedures can be taken as the basis for the implementation of (semi)automated tools that provide substantial support to the activity of specification validation and functional testing for industrially-sized time critical systems. In addition, we show how we have applied our techniques to an industrial-strength case study with the aid of a prototype tool.

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Cited By

Pradella MMorzenti APietro P(2013)Bounded satisfiability checking of metric temporal logic specificationsACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology10.1145/2491509.249151422:3(1-54)Online publication date: 30-Jul-2013
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2491509.2491514
Pradella MMorzenti ASan Pietro PCrnkovic IBertolino A(2007)The symmetry of the past and of the futureProceedings of the the 6th joint meeting of the European software engineering conference and the ACM SIGSOFT symposium on The foundations of software engineering10.1145/1287624.1287669(312-320)Online publication date: 7-Sep-2007
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1287624.1287669
Morasca SMorzenti APietro P(2000)A Case Study on Applying a Tool for Automated System Analysis Based on Modular Specifications Written in TRIOAutomated Software Engineering10.1023/A:10087102246117:2(125-155)Online publication date: 1-May-2000
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1023/A%3A1008710224611

Index Terms

Generation of Execution Sequences for Modular Time Critical Systems
1. Software and its engineering
  1. Software creation and management
    1. Software verification and validation
      1. Software defect analysis
        Software testing and debugging
2. Theory of computation
  1. Logic

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Published In

cover image IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering

IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering Volume 26, Issue 2

February 2000

95 pages

ISSN:0098-5589

Editor:
Anneliese von Mayrhauser
Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins

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Copyright © Copyright © 2000 IEEE. All Rights Reserved.

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IEEE Press

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Published: 01 February 2000

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Cited By

Pradella MMorzenti APietro P(2013)Bounded satisfiability checking of metric temporal logic specificationsACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology10.1145/2491509.249151422:3(1-54)Online publication date: 30-Jul-2013
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2491509.2491514
Pradella MMorzenti ASan Pietro PCrnkovic IBertolino A(2007)The symmetry of the past and of the futureProceedings of the the 6th joint meeting of the European software engineering conference and the ACM SIGSOFT symposium on The foundations of software engineering10.1145/1287624.1287669(312-320)Online publication date: 7-Sep-2007
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1287624.1287669
Morasca SMorzenti APietro P(2000)A Case Study on Applying a Tool for Automated System Analysis Based on Modular Specifications Written in TRIOAutomated Software Engineering10.1023/A:10087102246117:2(125-155)Online publication date: 1-May-2000
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1023/A%3A1008710224611

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