The formal, tool supported development of real time systems

The language SDL has long been applied in the development of various kinds of systems. Real-time systems are one application area where SDL has been applied extensively. Whilst SDL allows for certain modelling aspects of real-time systems to be represented, the language and its associated tool support have certain drawbacks for modelling and reasoning about such systems. In this paper we highlight the limitations of SDL and its associated tool support in this domain and present language extensions and next generation real-time system tool support to help overcome them. The applicability of the extensions and tools is demonstrated through a case study based upon a multimedia binding object used to support a configuration of time dependent information producers and consumers realising the so called lip-synchronisation algorithm

Development of usable grid services for the biomedical community

The BRIDGES project was funded by the UK Department of Trade and Industry to directly address the needs of the cardiovascular research scientists investigating the genetic causes of hypertension as part of the Wellcome Trust funded (£4.34M) Cardiovascular Functional Genomics (CFG) project. Specifically, the BRIDGES project developed a compute Grid and a data Grid with security at its heart. This paper presents the experiences in developing usable Grid services for the bio-community and the different phases of prototypes that were refined based upon user requirements and feedback

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

Specifying multimedia configurations in Z

In this paper we illustrate how the formal specification language Z can be used to reason about the temporal and throughput constraints associated with multimedia flows of information. In particular we show how it is possible to specify issues related to maximum delays, throughputs and jitter of information flows and how control of these flows can be achieved. What makes our work particularly interesting is that we deal with temporal aspects of systems without the use of a temporal logic. Rather, we highlight the versatility of the Z language in modelling systems with real time constraints

Real-time systems development with SDL and next generation validation tools

The language SDL has long been applied in the development of various kinds of systems. Real-time systems are one application area where SDL has been applied extensively. Whilst SDL allows for certain modelling aspects of real-time systems to be represented, the language and its associated tool support have certain drawbacks for modelling and reasoning about such systems. In this paper we highlight the limitations of SDL and its associated tool support in this domain and present language extensions and next generation real-time system tool support to help overcome them. The applicability of the extensions and tools is demonstrated through a case study based upon a multimedia binding object used to support a configuration of time dependent information producers and consumers realising the so called lip-synchronisation algorithm

Architecting specifications for test case generation

The Specification and Description Language (SDL) together with its associated tool sets can be used for the generation of Tree and Tabular Combined Notation (TTCN) test cases. Surprisingly, little documentation exists on the optimal way to specify systems so that they can best be used for the generation of tests. This paper, elaborates on the different tool supported approaches that can be taken for test case generation and highlights their advantages and disadvantages. A rule based SDL specification style is then presented that facilitates the automatic generation of tests

From access and integration to mining of secure genomic data sets across the grid

The UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) funded BRIDGES project (Biomedical Research Informatics Delivered by Grid Enabled Services) has developed a Grid infrastructure to support cardiovascular research. This includes the provision of a compute Grid and a data Grid infrastructure with security at its heart. In this paper we focus on the BRIDGES data Grid. A primary aim of the BRIDGES data Grid is to help control the complexity in access to and integration of a myriad of genomic data sets through simple Grid based tools. We outline these tools, how they are delivered to the end user scientists. We also describe how these tools are to be extended in the BBSRC funded Grid Enabled Microarray Expression Profile Search (GEMEPS) to support a richer vocabulary of search capabilities to support mining of microarray data sets. As with BRIDGES, fine grain Grid security underpins GEMEPS

Frameworks: the future of formal software development?

It could be argued that the primary issue to be dealt with in software engineering today is re-use of software. Current software development rarely, if ever, starts from nothing. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the development of specifications. To overcome this problem, various works have attempted to show how specifications can be built using architectural principles. We discuss one such approach in particular, the Architectural Semantics of Open Distributed Processing. We show the limitations of this work with regard to the architecting of specifications and propose a new approach, based on frameworks. To highlight the approach we use the work currently being done in the TOSCA project in its development of a service creation and validation environment for telecommunication services

Assessing the Implications of EU Enlargement for the Existing Member States: The Public Opinion Perspective

enlargement; public opinion

Integration Theory, Subsidiarity and the Internationalisation of Issues: The Implication for Legitimacy

democracy; governance; integration theory; internationalisation; international regimes; legitimacy; participation; political science; subsidiarity; Treaty on European Union