From software and hardware formal design towards an integrated system design methodology

Because of the growing complexity of telecom systems, the use of formal specification and design languages is becoming increasingly important. They do not clarify the system description produced, but also create the possibility to support and automate the development process. At Alcatel Bell Telephone, standardized, formal techniques are being applied for software and hardware development. Software development is based on CCITT-SDI, used from specification to code generation. Hardware development methodology is based on the IEEE-VHDI. The commonalities and similarities between formal methods for hardware and software development are looked at, and complemented by a system level design methodology, based on the same principles.<>