Integration of formal verification with real-time design

As computers play greater roles in critical functions of complex systems, an increased reliance on formal methods for verification of critical components will be required. However, formal methods are often criticized regarding their intractability to large problems domains and lack of mechanical support. The paper reports on preliminary research aimed at integrating formal verification techniques with an OO, real time CASE tool. We establish the feasibility of translating a system implementation model, expressed in the Real Time Object Oriented Modeling (ROOM) notation, into the Murphi model checker notation. Fragments of the translation algorithm are implemented in a proof of concept prototype; two formal analysis benchmarks are manually replicated using the translator definition. Methods for graphically expressing safety and timing constraints are demonstrated.