Non-synchronous communications in process algebraic architectural description languages

Abstract

Architectural description languages are a useful tool for modeling complex software systems at a high level of abstraction and, if based on formal methods, for enabling the early verification of various properties among which correct component coordination. This is the case with process algebraic architectural description languages, as they have been equipped with several techniques for verifying the absence of coordination mismatches in the case of synchronous communications. The objective of this paper is twofold. On the modeling side, we show how to enhance the expressiveness of a typical process algebraic architectural description language by including the capability of representing non-synchronous communications, in such a way that the usability of the original language is preserved. On the analysis side, we show how to modify the compatibility check for acyclic topologies and the interoperability check for cyclic topologies, in such a way that both checks can still be applied in the presence of non-synchronous communications. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.