Combining Formal Approaches

We have experience in the use of a number of formal notations, including Z, CSP and Action Systems. Our current work is focused on the wide variety of methods available and the need to understand how they relate and how they may be used together. Our work is concerned both with the theoretical foundation for comparing methodologies and with the differences in approach, development, verification and style to which different methods lead. Ongoing work based at Warwick is considering the way in which different formal viewpoints can be used to capture complementary aspects of a system. A feature of this approach is the use of appropriate views and levels for clarity of specification and ease of verification. The whole development must be conducted within a semantic framework which ensures consistency between the different views.

Staff involved: Sara Kalvala and Jane Sinclair