Writing and Analyzing System Specifications by Integrated Linguistic Tools

Abstract

The literature offers several examples of executable specification languages, ranging from mathematically based notation to visual formalisms. In this paper, an analysis environment for executable system specifications based on the language RSF (Requirement Specification Formalism) is presented. The analysis environment also contains two other linguistic tools — RSQ (Requirement Specification Querying), and SEF (Specification Execution Filtering). Using RSQ, classes of execution paths with certain properties can be exercised, so that selected behavioral aspects can be observed. Using SEF, the amount of information and the times at which it is output can be controlled, making the behavior analysis more effective. The paper shows how the notation of RSF, with its few basic concepts, is naturally exploited as a nucleus for the other tools, which are easily integrated to produce the final analysis environment. The combination of RSQ and SEF allows the planning of testing and analysis activities. A working session is shown for a specification describing a telephone switch call handler.