一种开放环境下软件在线演化一致性验证方法

Towards an Approach of Consistency Verification for Online Software Evolution in Open Environments

一致性保障技术是开放环境下软件在线演化研究的热点问题.区别于传统的基于图文法或基于体系结构描述语言(architectural description language,简称ADL)对结构演化进行分析的途径,提出一种从行为角度采用层次式时间自动机对软件在线演化进行分析的方法,可支持对软件的时间属性、层次特征等直接建模.提出了层次平展化算法,将层次模型等价地转化为若干并行时间自动机模型,从而可应用现有模型检测工具针对演化规约进行一致性验证,并通过实验验证了所提方法的有效性.

Consistency assurance mechanism is of particular importance for online software evolution. Different from traditional approaches based on attributed graph grammar or architectural description languages, the paper investigates the problem from the behavioral perspective and proposes a novel verification technique based on hierarchical timed automata. The approach can directly support the modeling of temporal aspects as well as the hierarchical organization of composed systems in open environments. To make it feasible for consistency verification, this paper also proposes a flattening algorithm, translating the model into a set of synchronized serial timed automata so as to be fed into third-party tool-set. An example is presented throughout the paper to illustrate the new method. Experiments are carried out to complement the discussion and demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach.