Interface design and refinement using state-based techniques

Abstract

We describe how a state-based model is used to specify embedded systems and achieve successful interface designs. We consider two approaches to implementing hardware-software interfaces. The first approach is a conventional one, modifying only one of the two components with incremental refinements by superposition. The second approach focuses on the interface itself so that coarse-grained interactions can be replaced by implementable fine-grained interactions and refinement formulas. As our specification formalism we use Lamport's Temporal Logic of Actions.