Refining formal specifications of human computer interaction by graph rewrite rules

Abstract

Human computer interaction can be specified successfully using the concept of information resources and the formal notation of graph grammars. In order to achieve a precise and continuous specification process between the requirements and design stages, however, a suitable strategy for refining abstract specifications into more concrete ones correctly and consistently is highly necessary. In this paper it will be proposed to apply graph rewrite rules at a meta level to abstract graph grammar specifications of human computer interaction in order to achieve correct and consistent refinements of the specifications wrt important requirements. A safety-critical system concerning the interaction between the pilot and the flight management system on the flight deck of an aircraft will be used as an example. A graph grammar specification of this interaction at an abstract level will be refined wrt mode visualization by a graph rewrite rule at a meta level.