An analyzer for message sequence charts

Rajeev Alur, Gerard J. Holzmann, Doron Peled

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

76 Scopus citations

Abstract

Message sequence charts (MSCs) are used in the design phase of a distributed system to record intended system behaviors. They serve as informal documentation of design requirements that are referred to throughout the design process and even in the final system integration and acceptance testing. We show that message sequence charts are open to a variety of semantic interpretations. The meaning of an MSC can depend on, for instance, whether one allows or denies the possibility of message loss or message overtaking, and on the particulars of the message queuing policy to be adopted. We describe an analysis tool that can perform automatic checks on message sequence charts and can alert the user to the existence of subtle design errors, for any predefined or user-specified semantic interpretation of the chart. The tool can also be used to specify time constraints on message delays, and can then return useful additional timing information, such as the minimum and the maximum possible delays between pairs of events.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationTools and Algorithms for the Construction and Analysis of Systems - 2nd International Workshop, TACAS 1996, Proceedings
EditorsTiziana Margaria, Bernhard Steffen
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages35-48
Number of pages14
ISBN (Print)3540610421, 9783540610427
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996
Externally publishedYes
Event2nd International Workshop on Tools and Algorithms for the Construction and Analysis of Systems, TACAS 1996 - Passau, Germany
Duration: 27 Mar 199629 Mar 1996

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume1055
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference2nd International Workshop on Tools and Algorithms for the Construction and Analysis of Systems, TACAS 1996
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityPassau
Period27/03/9629/03/96

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1996.

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