Hoogewijs, Albert

Van Langenhove, Sara

Undetermined

Ghent University Academic Bibliography

Integrating Cadence SMV in the Verification of UML Software∗S. Van Langenhove and A. HoogewijsDepartment of Pure Mathematics and Computer AlgebraGhent University, Belgium{Sara.VanLangenhove, Albert.Hoogewijs}@UGent.beThe Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a graphical language for modeling a multitude of software-intensive systems. This discussion focuses on the use of Cadence SMV1 in the design of software systemsin UML. We discern two distinct phases in software factoring. In the design phase we unveil systemproperties and inconsistencies by analyzing requirements, and decomposing the system in several com-municating components, using standard (and well known to programmers) object oriented reasoning.Inconsistencies and design errors are subsequently removed before entering our next phase, the codegeneration. Most contemporary programmers and engineers do not discern such a design phase. We areconvinced, as are many researchers, that it is tedious practice to recover from faulty reasoning duringor after the coding phase. Moreover, removing such design errors requires a lot of money and timespent on coding and testing of software. This situation is particularly unacceptable for security, safetyor commercially critical systems. Alas, modeling with UML neither guarantees a faultless design norhas the formal backbone required to do so. Therefore, it is important to conceive and to subsequentlyuse a UML based verification method to identify and remove errors, inconsistencies, and misconceptionsduring the design phase.A translation template in the Cadence SMV modeling tool for UML state charts is available. Thistemplate allows us to convert arbitrary state charts to the modal logic of SMV, covering all behavioralmodel elements as defined in the UML specification2, in particular, hierarchy, sequentialism, paral-lelism, non-determinism, priorities, and run-to-completion step semantics. The SMV model checker issubsequently used to verify the behavioral design. We are also able to verify requirements between com-municating objects of different classes using this template. Communicating objects have their behaviorspecified in separate state charts. The communication is based on signal and call event exchange, alsoknown as asynchronous and synchronous communication respectively, and their queueing. Additionally,the first step towards the protocol conformance between behavioral state charts and protocol state chartshas easily been realized.The template is built using some of the strengths of the Cadence SMV language. Unfortunately, dueto some technical limitations and drawbacks of SMV, queuing of events is less trivial as it may seem.The limitations also force us to transform the original state charts into semantic equivalents. Morespecifically, insertion of additional states and transitions is necessary to cope with these limitations. Asa consequence, a number of secondary problems show up. We are forced to perform transformations,using temporal logic, on the system requirements, as specified by the designer. To be able to verify theprotocol conformance, protocol state charts have to be transformed too, according to a limited numberof rules.Using the strengths of the Cadence SMV language and after solving the bottlenecks, the templatemakes way for automatic translation of UML state charts. With such an automatic translation available,UML not only becomes a standard for systems development, but also portal to formal verification. HenceUML is tuned into a more powerful and interesting tool, particularly for engineers and programmers.∗Funded by Ghent University (BOF/GOA project B/03667/01 IV1) and the Prof. Dr. Wuytack Fund1Cadence SMV was developed by K. McMillan and is available at http://www-cad.eecs.berkeley.edu/~kenmcmil/smv2Available at www.omg.org1

Integrating Cadence SMV in the Verification of UML Software

https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/302137/file/451764.pdf

Integrating Cadence SMV in the Verification of UML Software

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Ghent University Academic Bibliography