Statistical abstraction and model-checking of large heterogeneous systems

Abstract

We propose a new simulation-based technique for verifying applications running within a large heterogeneous system. Our technique starts by performing simulations of the system in order to learn the context in which the application is used. Then, it creates a stochastic abstraction for the application, which takes the context information into account. This smaller model can be verified using efficient techniques such as statistical model checking. We have applied our technique to an industrial case study: the cabin communication system of an airplane. We use the BIP toolset to model and simulate the system. We have conducted experiments to verify the clock synchronization protocol i.e., the application used to synchronize the clocks of all computing devices within the system. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.