System requirements and formal specifications of hierarchical reactive systems

A methodology for the description of system requirements and formal specifications of reactive systems and the synthesis of formal specifications is presented. Based on a hierarchical structure of system properties, a hierarchical assertion language is used as a requirement language and hierarchical state transition systems are used as formal specifications. Sound and complete formal specifications are synthesized from system requirements automatically. Modularity and reusability are supported by the introduction of requirement and specification modules and a partial order relation over these modules. The methodology has a practical significance because desired specifications of reactive systems can be derived or synthesized from user requirements on system functions in a systematic and stepwise way.