A Formal Framework for Viewpoint Consistency

Multiple Viewpoint models of system development are becoming increasingly important. Each viewpoint offers a different perspective on the target system and system development involves parallel refinement of the multiple views. Viewpoints related approaches have been considered in a number of different guises by a spectrum of researchers. Our work particularly focuses on the use of viewpoints in Open Distributed Processing (ODP) which is an ISO/ITU standardisation framework. The requirements of viewpoints modelling in ODP are very broad and, hence, demanding. Multiple viewpoints, though, prompt the issue of consistency between viewpoints. This paper describes a very general interpretation of consistency which we argue is broad enough to meet the requirements of consistency in ODP. We present a formal framework for this general interpretation; highlight basic properties of the interpretation and locate restricted classes of consistency. Strategies for checking consistency are also investigated. Throughout we illustrate our theory using the formal description technique LOTOS. Thus, the paper also characterises the nature of and options for consistency checking in LOTOS.

[1]  Miss A.O. Penney.  (b) , 1974, The New Yale Book of Quotations.

[2]  C. A. R. Hoare,et al.  Communicating sequential processes , 1978, CACM.

[3]  Joseph A. Goguen,et al.  Introducing Institutions , 1983, Logic of Programs.

[4]  Iso. Lotos,et al.  A Formal Description Technique Based on the Temporal Ordering of Observational Behaviour , 1985 .

[5]  Tommaso Bolognesi,et al.  Tableau methods to describe strong bisimilarity on LOTOS processes involving pure interleaving and enabling , 1994, FORTE.

[6]  Jacques Loeckx,et al.  The Foundations of Program Verification , 1987 .

[7]  Matthew Hennessy,et al.  Algebraic theory of processes , 1988, MIT Press series in the foundations of computing.

[8]  Robin Milner,et al.  Communication and concurrency , 1989, PHI Series in computer science.

[9]  Samuel T. Chanson,et al.  Translation from LOTOS and Estelle Specifications to Extended Transition System and its Verification , 1989, FORTE.

[10]  Kenjiroh Yamanaka,et al.  Incremental specification in LOTOS , 1990, PSTV.

[11]  Jane Sinclair,et al.  Introduction to formal specification and Z , 1991, Prentice Hall International Series in Computer Science.

[12]  Ed Brinksma.  What is the Method in Formal Methods? , 1991, FORTE.

[13]  Guy Leduc.  On the role of implementation relations in the design of distributed systems using LOTOS , 1991 .

[14]  Guy Leduc,et al.  A Framework Based on Implementation Relations for Implementing LOTOS Specifications , 1992, Comput. Networks ISDN Syst..

[15]  James Martin,et al.  Object-oriented analysis and design , 1992 .

[16]  Jean-Marc Nerson,et al.  Object-Oriented Analysis and Design , 1992, TOOLS.

[17]  Bashar Nuseibeh,et al.  Viewpoints: A Framework for Integrating Multiple Perspectives in System Development , 1992, Int. J. Softw. Eng. Knowl. Eng..

[18]  Michael Jackson,et al.  Conjunction as composition , 1993, TSEM.

[19]  Grady Booch,et al.  Object-oriented analysis and design with applications (2nd ed.) , 1993 .

[20]  Robert P. Worden.  Fermenting and Distilling , 1994, Z User Workshop.

[21]  Mike Ainsworth,et al.  Viewpoint specification and Z , 1994, Inf. Softw. Technol..

[22]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Maintaining Cross Viewpoint Consistency using Z , 1995 .

[23]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Some Results on Cross Viewpoint Consistency Checking , 1995 .

[24]  Howard Bowman,et al.  FDTs for ODP , 1995 .

[25]  Peter F. Linington.  RM-ODP: The Architecture , 1995 .

[26]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Cross Viewpoint Consistency in Open Distributed Processing (Intra language consistency) , 1995 .

[27]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Viewpoints and Objects , 1995, ZUM.

[28]  Daniel Jackson,et al.  Structuring Z specifications with views , 1995, TSEM.

[29]  Kim G. Larsen,et al.  A Constraint Oriented Proof Methodology Based on Modal Transition Systems , 1994, TACAS.

[30]  David Lorge Parnas,et al.  Language-Free Mathematical Methods for Software Design , 1995, ZUM.

[31]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Strategies for Consistency Checking , 1995 .

[32]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Composition of LOTOS specifications , 1995, PSTV.

[33]  J. Derrick,et al.  Consistency and Reenement for Partial Speciication in Z , 1996 .

[34]  Jim Woodcock,et al.  Using Z - specification, refinement, and proof , 1996, Prentice Hall international series in computer science.

[35]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Cross-viewpoint consistency in open distributed processing , 1996, Softw. Eng. J..

[36]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Strategies for Consistency Checking, the Choice of Unification , 1996 .

[37]  Gregor Kiczales,et al.  Aspect-oriented programming , 1996, CSUR.

[38]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Consistency and Refinement for Partial Specification in Z , 1996, FME.

[39]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Comparing LOTOS and Z Refinement Relations , 1996, FORTE.

[40]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Viewpoint consistency in ODP, a general interpretation , 1997 .

[41]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Viewpoint Consistency in Z and LOTOS: A Case Study , 1997, FME.

[42]  Howard Bowman,et al.  On behavioural subtyping in LOTOS , 1997 .

[43]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Supporting ODP - Translating LOTOS to Z , 1997 .

[44]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Translating LOTOS to object-Z , 1997, FME 1997.

[45]  Maarten W. A. Steen.  Consistency and composition of process specifications , 1998 .

[46]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Viewpoints and consistency: translating LOTOS to Object-z , 1999 .

[47]  Cristina V. Lopes,et al.  Aspect-oriented programming , 1999, ECOOP Workshops.

[48]  Howard Bowman,et al.  Strategies for Consistency Checking Based on Unification , 1999, Sci. Comput. Program..

[49]  Howard Bowman,et al.  A Junction between State Based and Behavioural Specification (Invited Talk) , 1999, FMOODS.