Simulation of timed input/output automata

Abstract

This Master of Engineering Thesis describes the design, implementation, and usage of the TIOA Simulator. The TIOA Simulator, along with the other components of the TIOA Toolset aims to provide a framework for developing dependable distributed systems. The project is based on the Timed Input/Output Automaton framework, and supports TIOA, a formal language for specifying timed I/O automata. Simulation of TIOA programs is useful in the process of testing the proposed system over a specific set of executions. During the execution the Simulator is able to test proposed invariants and validate a proposed simulation relation between the system's implementation and its specification. A step correspondence between the steps of the implementation and the specification drives the validation of the simulation relation. The identification and validation of the invariants and the simulation relation constitutes the first step towards a formal verification of the system's correctness. The proposed step correspondence can be used in a formal proof to show that the proposed relation is indeed a simulation relation.