A Specification for Underground Tank Monitoring System (UTMS) Using . . .

The Real-time process algebra (RTPA) is a set of new mathematic notations for formally describing system architecture, and static and dynamic behaviors. It is recognized that the specification of software behaviors is a threedimensional problem known as: (1) mathematic operation, (2) event/process timing, (3) memory manipulation. RTPA is designed as a coherent, expressive and easy-comprehend software engineering notation system and formal engineering method for specifying, refining and implementing software systems which have the characteristic of 3-D, especially for the real-time and embedded systems. RTPA elicits and models 32 algebraic notations which are 16 meta-processes and 16 meta-relations. The set of these 32 notations are collected, derived and developed from existing formal methods and modern programming languages. As a result, they can be combined together to specifying all complex software system architectures. Besides, RTPA provides not only meta-type included primary and special data types but also Abstract Data Types (ADTs). Generally, the very small set of formal notation has been proven sufficient for modeling and specifying real-time system, their architecture, and static / dynamic behaviors in real-world software engineering environment. In this paper, first we represent 32 basic notations in RTPA and then apply RTPA to specify an embedded using real-time operating system. That is the Underground Tank Monitoring System -- UTMS, it is represented to show the advantages of RTPA as specifying and refining a real-time system. In the appendix at the end of this paper, RTPA is also in comparison with other formal methods to show more clearly its advantages