Abstract
We introduce NewThink, a specification language designed specifically for real-time safety-critical systems. NewThink is a component of an overall Orwellian development method for safety-critical systems which consists of a specification language, a programming language and a set of sound decomposition rules. In this paper, we present the syntax and semantics of NewThink. We demonstrate a relationship between timed and static specifications, which potentially allows us to continue using techniques from the static case in the timed case. We also prove that our extension for real-time is conservative, which is very much in keeping with our Orwellian philosophy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrews, D.: VDM Specification Language Proto-Standard. Draft Standard ISO/IEC JTC1/SC22/WG19 I-246, ISO, December 1992. Document Reference IN9.
Coombes, A. and McDermid, J.: Specifying Temporal Requirements of Distributed Real-Time Systems in Z. Technical Report YCS 92-176, University of York, 1992.
Currie, I. F.: NewSpeak — a reliable programming language. In Chris Sennett, editor,High-integrity Software, Computer Systems Series, pages 122–158. Pitman, 1989.
Dawes, J.:The VDM-SL Reference Guide. Pitman, 1991.
Davies, J. W. and Schneider, S.: A brief history of timed CSP. Technical Report PRG-96, University of Oxford, 1992.
Fidge, C. J.: Specification and Verification of Real-Time Behaviour Using Z and RTL. InSymposium on Formal Techniques in Real-Time and Fault-Tolerant Systems. Springer-Verlag Lecture Notes in Computer Science 571, January 1992.
He, J. and Bowen, J.: Time Interval Semantics and Implementation of a Real-Time Programming Language. InFourth EuroMicro Workshop on Real-Time Systems. IEEE Computer Press, June 1992.
Hoare, C. A. R.:Communicating Sequential Processes. Prentice-Hall International, 1985.
Hooman, J.:Specification and Compositional Verification of Real-Time systems. PhD thesis, Eindhoven University of Technology, 1991. Available as Springer-Verlag Lecture Notes in Computer Science 558.
Hansen, K. M., Ravn, A. P. and Stavridou, V.: Linking fault trees to software specifications. InDRA Colloquium on Analysis of Requirements for Software Intensive Systems, Malvern, Worcs., May 1993.
Hansen, M. R., Zhou, C.C. and Stauntrup, J.: A Real-Time Duration Semantics for Circuits. InWorkshop on Timing Issues in the Specification and Synthesis of Digital Systems, March 1992.
INMOS.occam 2 Reference Manual. Prentice-Hall International, 1988.
Jahanian, F. and Mok, A. K.: Safety analysis of timing properties in real-time systems.IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 12(9):890–904, 1986.
Jones, C. B.:Systematic Software Development Using VDM. Prentice-Hall International, 1990.
Mahoney, B. and Hayes, I.: A Case-Study in Timed Refinement: A Mine Pump.IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 18(8):817–826, September 1992.
Middleburg, C. A.:Logic and Specification: Extending VDM-SL for advanced formal specification. Chapman & Hall, 1993.
MOD. The Procurement of Safety Critical Software In Defence Equipment. Interim Standard 00-55 Issue 1, Ministry of Defence, Directorate of Standardisation, Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street, Glasgow G2 8EX., 1991.
Morgan, C. C.:Programming from Specifications. Prentice-Hall International, 1990.
Moszkowski, B.: A Temporal Logic for Multilevel Reasoning about Hardware.IEEE Computer, 18(2):10–19, 1985.
Mukherjee, P.: Rules for Orwellian Decomposition. Technical Report CSR-93-13, University of Birmingham, December 1993.
Mukherjee, P.:Specification and Implementation of real-time safety-critical systems. PhD thesis, University of London, 1993.
Mukherjee, P. and Wichmann, B. A.: Single Transferable Vote: A case study of the use of VDM-SL. In C.J. Mitchell, editor,The Mathematics of Dependable Systems. Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, Oxford University Press, September 1993.
Ravn, A. P., Rischel, H. and Hansen, K. M.: Specifying and Verifying Requirements of Real-Time Systems.IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 19(1):41–55, January 1993.
Scholefield, D. J.:A Refinement Calculus for Real-Time Systems. PhD thesis, University of York, Department of Computer Science, 1992. Available as Technical Report YCST 92/07.
Spivey, J. M.:The Z Notation: A Reference Manual. Prentice Hall International, 1989.
Skaakebæk, J. U., Ravn, A. P., Rischel, H. and Zhou, C. C.: Specification of Embedded Real-Time Systems. InFourth EuroMicro Workshop on Real-Time Systems. IEEE Computer Press, June 1992.
Zhou, C. C., Hoare, C. A. R., and Ravn, A. P.: A Calculus of Durations.Information Processing Letters, 40(5)269–276, 1992.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mukherjee, P., Stavridou, V. A theory of Orwellian specifications with NewThink. Formal Aspects of Computing 7, 704–727 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01211002
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01211002