BCS Logo
BRITISH COMPUTER SOCIETY FACS SPECIALIST GROUP

Formal Aspects of Computing Science

BCS-FACS Evening Seminar Series

The Abstract State Machines Method for High-Level System Design and Analysis

Professor Egon Börger

University of Pisa, Italy

21 March 2007

6pm


BCS London Offices

First Floor, The Davidson Building
5 Southampton Street
London WC2E 7HA


[ Seminar Programme | Location of Venue | Registration ]

We try to answer the often asked question what is special about the Abstract State Machines (ASM) Method as a practical and scientifically well-founded systems engineering method, a method that enables to construct computer-based systems in a certifiably reliable and objectively controllable way, guiding the development activities from requirements capture to their implementation and thus bridging the gap between the two ends of system development:
  • the human understanding and formulation of real-world problems,
  • the deployment of their algorithmic solutions by code-executing machines.


We illustrate the three constituents of the method, namely the notions of ASM (generalizing FSMs by abstract states), of ASM ground models (system blueprints) and of ASM refinements (controlled introduction of details). Whereas ASM ground models are accurate descriptions of requirements at an application-domain-determined abstraction level that provide an authoritative reference for the further system development activities, ASM refinements link more detailed descriptions at successive development stages in an organic and effectively maintainable chain of rigorous and coherent system models.

We explain how the method allows one to smoothly integrate into best software engineering practice both mathematical rigour and a consistent combination of system design and analysis (machine-supportable mathematical verification and experimental validation).

We highlight some outstanding applications of the method and illustrate its uniformity by a comparison with Parnas' table technique and Abrial's Event-B machines.

Refreshments will be served from 5.15pm

The seminar is free of charge and open to everyone. If you would like to attend, please email Paul Boca your name by 18 March 2007. Pre-registration is required, as security at the BCS Offices is tight.

Formal Aspects of Computing Science
Copyright © BCS-FACS
Valid HTML 4.01!