Using VDM within an object-oriented framework

Abstract

The formal specification of OSI network management protocols presents a challenge as the structure and semantics of the information to be communicated across an interoperable interface is modelled as managed objects. It is necessary to integrate formal techniques into the specific object-oriented framework developed by the ISO management standards. This paper examines the suitability of VDM as a candidate formal description method for use in specifying the behaviour of OSI managed objects. To investigate the suitability of incorporating object-oriented concepts such as inheritance within VDM, a case study of a simplified Log managed object class is examined.