Applying formal methods to standard development: the open distributed processing experience

Since their introduction, formal methods have been applied in various ways to different standards. This paper gives an account of these applications, focusing on one application in particular: the development of a framework for creating standards for Open Distributed Processing (ODP). Following an introduction to ODP, the paper gives an insight into the current work on formalising the architecture of the Reference Model of ODP (RM-ODP), highlighting the advantages to be gained. The different approaches currently being taken are shown, together with their associated advantages and disadvantages. The paper concludes that there is no one all-purpose approach which can be used in preference to all others, but that a combination of approaches is desirable to best fulfil the potential of formal methods in developing an architectural semantics for OD

The Case for Formal Methods in Standards

It is argued that applying formal methods to standards making would result in more accurate, more understandable, and more useful standards. The main benefit seen in using formal methods in a standard's development and expression is improving the standard's quality. In the early stages of standards development, formal methods can result in considerable clarification during the development and expression of the underlying conceptual model for a standard or family of related standards. They can also define precisely the relation among the components of both the standard being developed and other standards. Later in the development process, formal methods can improve a standard's quality during its use by letting it be expressed clearly, unambiguously, and concisely in a way that natural language does not allow. Finally, formal methods can aid standards development at the maintenance stage, for example, by allowing the adequacy of a proposed change to be proved. Guidelines for applying formal methods in the standardization process are provided