Juan Carlos Augusto

Two Approaches to Event Definition

We compare two approaches to event definition, deriving from the Active Database and Knowledge Representation communities. We relate these approaches by taking a system of the former kind, displaying some of its shortcomings, and rectifying them by remodelling the system in the latter style. We further show the extent to which the original system can be recreated within the remodelled system. This bridge between the two approaches should provide a starting point for fruitful interaction between the two communities.

Using SPIN and STeP to verify business processes specifications

Business transactions are prone to failure and having to deal with unexpected situations. Some business process specification languages, e.g. StAC, introduce notions like compensation handling. Given the need of verification of correctness in business related software, it is important to fill in the gap between business process specification languages like StAC and the verification software already available.

Model-based approaches for validating business critical systems

Developing a business critical system can involve considerable difficulties. This paper describes part of a new methodology that tackles this problem using co-evolution of models and prototypes to strengthen the relationship between modelling and testing. We illustrate how different modelling frameworks, Promela/SPIN and B/ProB/AtellerB, can be used to implement this idea. As a way to reinforce integration between modelling and testing we use model-based tests and trace-driven model checking. As a result we were able to anticipate problems and guide the development of our software in a safer way, increasing our understanding of the system and its reliability.

A temporal logic view of paradigm models

Software systems have evolved from monolithic programs to systems constructed from parallel, cooperative components, as can be currently found in object-oriented applications. Although powerful, these cooperative systems are also more difficult to verify.We show it is possible to automatically translate a PARADIGM specification to a Propositional Linear Temporal Logic based program. This has several interesting consequences: a) on one hand we allow a more declarative view of PARADIGM specifications, b) the resulting translation is an executable specification and c) as we show in this work it can also be useful on verifying correctness properties by automatic means. We think this will contribute to enhance the understanding, usability and further development of PARADIGM, and related methods like SOCCA, within both the Software Engineering and the Knowledge Engineering communities.

The Benefits of Rapid Modelling for E-business System Development

There are considerable difficulties modelling new business processes. One approach is to adapt existing models, but this leads to the difficult problem of maintaining consistency between model and code. This work reports an investigation into creating quick models that are nonetheless useful in providing insight into proposed designs.

A procedure to translate Paradigm Specifications to Propositional Linear Temporal Logic and its application to verification

Software systems have evolved from monolithic programs to systems constructed from parallel, cooperative components, as can be currently found in object-oriented applications. Although powerful, these cooperative systems are also more difficult to verify. We show that it is possible to automatically translate a PARADIGM specification to a Propositional Linear Temporal Logic based program. This has several interesting consequences: a) on one hand we allow a more declarative view of PARADIGM specifications, b) the resulting translation is an executable specification and c) as we show in this work it can also be used to verify correctness properties by automatic means. We think this will contribute to enhance the understanding, usability and further development of PARADIGM, and related methods like SOCCA, within both the Software Engineering and the Knowledge Engineering communities.

Editorial: The First International Workshop on Verification and Validation of Enterprise Information Systems (VVEIS 2003)

One of the basic problems in the history of computer science, and more recently of software engineering, is to ensure reliability and correctness of the systems produced. Hence, verification and validation issues have been, are, and will be a great concern for the community. In particular, the area of ‘enterprise information systems’ (EISs) is continuously pushing ahead the complexity of the systems involved, uncovering fresh challenges as new application domains are considered and new technologies are combined or created. Developing systems in the area of EISs involves dealing with considerable difficulties such as distributed systems, interaction via synchronous or asynchronous communication, consistency of data, as well as security and performance issues. After several decades of sustained effort, verification and validation techniques are now available to industry and business related developers, not just in theory, but also through real tools that can be incorporated into the development cycle. The problems are still numerous though, as systems grow and new technologies are considered. Having in mind that EISs are a continuous source of interesting challenges for the verification and validation community, we established a workshop that is to be organized annually as one of the satellite events of the International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems (ICEIS). It is the aim of this workshop to stimulate the exchange of ideas/experiences of practitioners, researchers and engineers working in the area of validating/verifying software for EISs. Since one of the aims of the workshop is to stimulate dialogue between people working in the area from different perspectives, a wide range of contributions are welcomed, both practical and theoretical papers, including case studies, from all areas related to increasing confidence in the correctness of EIS software. This covers a diverse range of topics, including: verification, for example through model checking, as well as system validation and testing. The first edition of the workshop was held in April 2003 at Angers, France, where a variety of presentations covered theoretical and practical issues. We selected three articles that reflect that variety.