The design of a tool-supported graphical notation for timed CSP

Abstract

A graphical notation for representing Timed CSP(TCSP) specifications is presented. The notation, which integrates features from a number of existing specification languages, including Statecharts, is aimed at providing the means for more easily constructing and managing large TCSP specifications, with the intention of forming the basis for tools and a methodology for applying TCSP in the large. The graphical notation extends TCSP by allowing specifications to be both processes and arbitrary predicates, thus increasing the expressiveness and applicability of the notation. An extendible tool framework, designed for the graphical notation and to be integrated with other tools, is outlined. We discuss the features of this framework, especially how it aims to support reasoning about TCSP specifications.