Integration of formal datatypes within state diagrams

Abstract

In this paper, we present a generic approach to integrate datatypes expressed using formal specification languages within state diagrams. Our main motivations are (i) to be able to model dynamic aspects of complex systems with graphical user-friendly languages, and (ii) to be able to specify in a formal way and at a high abstraction level the datatypes pertaining to the static aspects of such systems. The dynamic aspects may be expressed using state diagrams (such as UML or SDL ones) and the static aspects may be expressed using either algebraic specifications or state oriented specifications (such as Z or B). Our approach introduces a flexible use of datatypes. It also may take into account different semantics for the state diagrams. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.