10,640 research outputs found
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Software integration testing based on communication coverage criteria and partial model generation
This paper considers the problem of integration testing the components of a timed distributed software system. We assume that communication between the components is specified using timed interface automata and use computational tree logic (CTL) to define communication-based coverage criteria that refer to send- and receive-statements and communication paths. The proposed method enables testers to focus during component integration on such parts of the specification, e.g. behaviour specifications or Markovian usage models, that are involved in the communication between components to be integrated. A more specific application area of this approach is the integration of test-models, e.g. a transmission gear can be tested based on separated models for the driver behaviour, the engine condition, and the mechanical and hydraulical transmission states. Given such a state-based specification of a distributed system and a concrete coverage goal, a model checker is used in order to determine the coverage or generate test sequences that achieve the goal. Given the generated test sequences we derive a partial test-model of the components from which the test sequences are derived. The partial model can be used to drive further testing and can also be used as the basis for producing additional partial models in incremental integration testing. While the process of deriving the test sequences could suffer from a combinatorial explosion, the effort required to generate the partial model is polynomial in the number of test sequences and their length. Thus, where it is not feasible to produce test sequences that achieve a given type of coverage it is still possible to produce a partial model on the basis of test sequences generated to achieve some other criterion. As a result, the process of generating a partial model has the potential to scale to large industrial software systems. While a particular model checker, UPPAAL, was used, it should be relatively straightforward to adapt the approach for use with other CTL based model checkers. A potential additional benefit of the approach is that it provides a visual description of the state-based testing of distributed systems, which may be beneficial in other contexts such as education and comprehension
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Using formal methods to support testing
Formal methods and testing are two important approaches that assist in the development of high quality software. While traditionally these approaches have been seen as rivals, in recent
years a new consensus has developed in which they are seen as complementary. This article reviews the state of the art regarding ways in which the presence of a formal specification can be used to assist testing
Testing real-time systems using TINA
The paper presents a technique for model-based black-box conformance testing of real-time systems using the Time Petri Net Analyzer TINA. Such test suites are derived from a prioritized time Petri net composed of two concurrent sub-nets specifying respectively the expected behaviour of the system under test and its environment.We describe how the toolbox TINA has been extended to support automatic generation of time-optimal test suites. The result is optimal in the sense that the set of test cases in the test suite have the shortest possible accumulated time to be executed. Input/output conformance serves as the notion of implementation correctness, essentially timed trace inclusion taking environment assumptions into account. Test cases selection is based either on using manually formulated test purposes or automatically from various coverage criteria specifying structural criteria of the model to be fulfilled by the test suite. We discuss how test purposes and coverage criterion are specified in the linear temporal logic SE-LTL, derive test sequences, and assign verdicts
Parameterized Model-Checking for Timed-Systems with Conjunctive Guards (Extended Version)
In this work we extend the Emerson and Kahlon's cutoff theorems for process
skeletons with conjunctive guards to Parameterized Networks of Timed Automata,
i.e. systems obtained by an \emph{apriori} unknown number of Timed Automata
instantiated from a finite set of Timed Automata templates.
In this way we aim at giving a tool to universally verify software systems
where an unknown number of software components (i.e. processes) interact with
continuous time temporal constraints. It is often the case, indeed, that
distributed algorithms show an heterogeneous nature, combining dynamic aspects
with real-time aspects. In the paper we will also show how to model check a
protocol that uses special variables storing identifiers of the participating
processes (i.e. PIDs) in Timed Automata with conjunctive guards. This is
non-trivial, since solutions to the parameterized verification problem often
relies on the processes to be symmetric, i.e. indistinguishable. On the other
side, many popular distributed algorithms make use of PIDs and thus cannot
directly apply those solutions
A Holistic Approach in Embedded System Development
We present pState, a tool for developing "complex" embedded systems by
integrating validation into the design process. The goal is to reduce
validation time. To this end, qualitative and quantitative properties are
specified in system models expressed as pCharts, an extended version of
hierarchical state machines. These properties are specified in an intuitive way
such that they can be written by engineers who are domain experts, without
needing to be familiar with temporal logic. From the system model, executable
code that preserves the verified properties is generated. The design is
documented on the model and the documentation is passed as comments into the
generated code. On the series of examples we illustrate how models and
properties are specified using pState.Comment: In Proceedings F-IDE 2015, arXiv:1508.0338
A Model-Derivation Framework for Software Analysis
Model-based verification allows to express behavioral correctness conditions
like the validity of execution states, boundaries of variables or timing at a
high level of abstraction and affirm that they are satisfied by a software
system. However, this requires expressive models which are difficult and
cumbersome to create and maintain by hand. This paper presents a framework that
automatically derives behavioral models from real-sized Java programs. Our
framework builds on the EMF/ECore technology and provides a tool that creates
an initial model from Java bytecode, as well as a series of transformations
that simplify the model and eventually output a timed-automata model that can
be processed by a model checker such as UPPAAL. The framework has the following
properties: (1) consistency of models with software, (2) extensibility of the
model derivation process, (3) scalability and (4) expressiveness of models. We
report several case studies to validate how our framework satisfies these
properties.Comment: In Proceedings MARS 2017, arXiv:1703.0581
A Model-Derivation Framework for Software Analysis
Model-based verification allows to express behavioral correctness conditions
like the validity of execution states, boundaries of variables or timing at a
high level of abstraction and affirm that they are satisfied by a software
system. However, this requires expressive models which are difficult and
cumbersome to create and maintain by hand. This paper presents a framework that
automatically derives behavioral models from real-sized Java programs. Our
framework builds on the EMF/ECore technology and provides a tool that creates
an initial model from Java bytecode, as well as a series of transformations
that simplify the model and eventually output a timed-automata model that can
be processed by a model checker such as UPPAAL. The framework has the following
properties: (1) consistency of models with software, (2) extensibility of the
model derivation process, (3) scalability and (4) expressiveness of models. We
report several case studies to validate how our framework satisfies these
properties.Comment: In Proceedings MARS 2017, arXiv:1703.0581
Towards more accurate real time testing
The languages Message Sequence Charts (MSC) [1], System Design Language1 (SDL) [2] and Testing and Test Control Notation Testing2 (TTCN-3) [3] have been developed for the design, modelling and testing of complex software systems. These languages have been developed to complement one another in the software development process. Each of these languages has features for describing, analysing or testing the real time properties of systems. Robust toolsets exist which provide integrated environments for the design, analysis and testing of systems, and it is claimed, for the complete development of real time systems. It was shown in [4] however, that there are fundamental problems with the SDL language and its associated tools for modelling and reasoning about real time systems. In this paper we present the limitations of TTCN-3 and propose recommendations which help minimise the timing inaccuracies that would otherwise occur in using the language directly
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