Observation and Abstract Behaviour in Specification and Implementation of State-based Systems

Abstract

Classical algebraic specification is an accepted framework for specification. A criticism which applies is the fact that it is functional, not based on a notion of state as most software development and implementation languages are. We formalise the idea of a state-based object or abstract machine using algebraic means. In contrast to similar approaches we consider dynamic logic instead of equational logic as the framework for specification and implementation. The advantage is a more expressive language allowing us to specify safety and liveness conditions. It also allows a clearer distinction of functional and state-based parts which require different treatment in order to achieve behavioural abstraction when necessary. We shall in particular focus on abstract behaviour and observation. A behavioural notion of satisfaction for state-elements is needed in order to abstract from irrelevant details of the state realisation.

Contributors

Claus Pahl

Conference

Publication date: July 2001

Publication date (Print): July 2001

Pages: 1-16

Affiliations

School of Computer Applications

Dublin City University

Dublin 9, Ireland

Article

DOI: 10.14236/ewic/IWFM2001.4

Copyright statement: © Claus Pahl. Published by BCS Learning and Development Ltd. 5th Irish Workshop on Formal Methods, Dublin, Ireland

License:

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Conference name: 5th Irish Workshop on Formal Methods

Conference acronym: IWFM

Conference number: 5

Conference location: Dublin, Ireland

Conference date: 16-17 July 2001

Conference sponsor: Electronic Workshops in Computing (eWiC)

Conference theme: Irish Workshop on Formal Methods

Product

Product Information: 1477-9358BCS Learning & Development

Self URI (article page): https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.14236/ewic/IWFM2001.4

Self URI (journal page): https://ewic.bcs.org/

Categories

Series title: Electronic Workshops in Computing