Formal modeling and analysis of wireless sensor network algorithms in Real-Time Maude

Advanced wireless sensor network algorithms pose challenges to their formal modeling and analysis, such as modeling probabilistic and real-time behaviors and novel forms of communication, and analyzing both correctness and performance. In this paper, we propose using Real-Time Maude to formally model, simulate, and further analyze such algorithms. The Real-Time Maude formalism is expressive yet intuitive, and the tool provides a spectrum of analysis methods, including simulation, reachability analysis, and temporal logic model checking. We have used Real-Time Maude to formally model and analyze the sophisticated OGDC algorithm. We could perform all the analyses performed by the OGDC developers using the simulation tool ns-2, as well as further analyses which are beyond the capabilities of simulation tools. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a formal tool has been applied to such a complex wireless sensor network algorithm.