Combining formal methods for the development of reactive systems
by Olfa Mosbahi; Mohamed Khalgui
International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology (IJCAT), Vol. 42, No. 2/3, 2011

Abstract: This paper deals with the use of two verification approaches: theorem proving and model checking. We focus on the Event-B method by using its associated theorem proving tool (Click_n_Prove), and on the language TLA⁺ by using its model checker TLC. By considering the limitation of the Event-B method to invariance properties, we propose to apply the language TLA⁺ to verify liveness properties on a software behaviour. We extend first the expressivity and the semantics of a B model (called temporal B model) to deal with the specification of fairness and eventuality properties. Second, we give transformation rules from a temporal B model into a TLA⁺ module. We present in particular, our prototype system called B2TLA⁺, that we have developed to support this transformation; then we can verify these properties thanks to the model checker TLC on finite state systems. For the verification of infinite-state systems, we propose the use of the predicate diagrams. We illustrate our approach on a case study of a parcel sorting system.

Online publication date: Sat, 11-Feb-2012

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