Abstract
The need to represent timing requirements for computer systems in a formal way is being addressed by a growing number of specification techniques. However, a common weakness in these techniques is understandability as a specification is often used to communicate between interested parties who may not possess the skills necessary to interpret a formal specification. Some atemporal specification languages deal with this problem by means of graphical notations with associated formal semantics (e.g. statecharts), although to the knowledge of the author, no such technique exists for dealing with temporal constraints in such a way. This paper presents causal timing diagrams, one possible approach for describing timing requirements graphically with an underlying formal semantics.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
J. Bowen, “Specification of Timing Constraints”, Z Forum Electronic Newsletter 1 (6) (May 1986).
Alan Burns and Andrew Lister, “A Framework for Building Dependable Systems”, The Computer Journal 34(2), pp. 173–181, BCS (April 1991).
A. Coombes and J. McDermid, “Specifying Temporal Requirements for Distributed Real-Time Systems in Z”, YCS 176, Department of Computer Science, University of York (July 1992).
A. C. Coombes and J. A. McDermid, “A Tool for Defining the Architecture of Z Specifications”, pp. 77–92 in Z User Workshop, Oxford 1990, ed. J. E. Nicholls, Springer-Verlag, Oxford, UK (December 1990).
J. Davies and S. Schneider, “An Introduction to Timed CSP”, PRG-75, Programming Research Group, Oxford University (August 1989).
M Diss, P Goldsack, P Harry, S Tubb and T Rush, A Model for the Technology Transfer of Formal Method Techniques, Information Systems Centre, HP Labs, Bristol (1989).
Duke, R. and Smith, G., “Temporal logic and Z specifications”, Australian Computer Journal 21 (2), pp. 62–6, Twelfth Australian Computer Science Conference (May 1989).
Jaegwon Kim, “Causes and Events: Mackie on Causation”, pp. 48–62 in Causation and Conditionals, ed. Ernest Sosa, Oxford University Press (1975).
H. Kopetz, G. Fohler, H. Kantz et al., Specification and Design for Timeliness PDCS Report, Subtask B2, York, April 7th 1990.
N Leveson, “The Challenge of Building Process-Control Software”, IEEE Software 7 (6), pp. 55–62 (November 1990).
J. L. Mackie, “Causes and Conditions”, pp. 15–38 in Causation and Conditionals, ed. Sosa, Oxford University Press, London (1975).
MoD, Interim Defence Standard 00–55: Requirements for the Procurement of Safety Critical Software, 1991.
Gill Randell, “Translating Data Flow Diagrams into Z (and vice-versa)”, 90019, Royal Signals and Radar Establishment, Malvern (October 1990).
J. Michael Spivey, Understanding Z: A Specification Language and its Formal Semantics, Cambridge University Press, UK (January 1988).
J. M. Spivey, The Z Notation: A Reference Manual, Prentice-Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4RG, UK (1989).
John F. Wakerly, Digital Design Principles and Practices, Prentice Hall (1990).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Coombes, A.C., McDermid, J.A. (1993). Using Diagrams to give a Formal Specification of Timing Constraints in Z. In: Bowen, J.P., Nicholls, J.E. (eds) Z User Workshop, London 1992. Workshops in Computing. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3556-2_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3556-2_9
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-19818-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3556-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive