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Applying string-rewriting to sequence-based specification

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Abstract

Sequence-based specification is a constructive method designed to convert ordinary functional requirements (that are often imprecisely and informally composed) into precise specifications. The method prompts a human requirements analyst to make the many decisions necessary to resolve the ambiguities, omissions, inconsistencies, and errors inherent in the original requirements document, and construct a complete, consistent, and traceably correct specification. We find that string-rewriting theory can be applied to make a number of these decisions automatically. In this paper we develop a method of applying string-rewriting to sequence enumeration. We give prescriptions on how prefix rewrite rules and general string rewrite rules can be declared, and used later in the process to automatically make new equivalences thereby prompting the human for fewer decisions. Based on the results we present an enhanced enumeration process, in which one develops working enumerations and working reduction systems concurrently, applying string-rewriting to deduce new reductions as needed, until a complete enumeration is obtained. We present data from four published applications that shows the feasibility and applicability of applying string-rewriting. In addition to effort reduction we have observed the benefit of eliminating rework achieved by consistent decisions, as well as an additional opportunity string-rewriting provides for validation of specification decisions to requirements.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Klaus Madlener for several fruitful discussions and important comments on string-rewriting, as well as the use of the COSY tool developed by the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Germany.

The authors also acknowledge with thanks our communication with David Parnas regarding this research. We benefited greatly from his knowledge of research literature on string-rewriting that was relevant to our work, and for helpful comments on an early draft of the paper.

The authors also thank the anonymous referees for their helpful comments to improve this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ITK Engineering AG, Luitpoldstraße 59, 76863, Herxheim, Germany

    Robert Eschbach

  2. Department of Computer Science, Ball State University, Robert Bell Building (RB), Room 455, Muncie, IN, 47306, USA

    Lan Lin

  3. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Tennessee, Min H. Kao Building, 1520 Middle Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA

    Jesse H. Poore

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  1. Robert Eschbach
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  2. Lan Lin
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  3. Jesse H. Poore
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Correspondence to Lan Lin.

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Eschbach, R., Lin, L. & Poore, J.H. Applying string-rewriting to sequence-based specification. Form Methods Syst Des 43, 414–449 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10703-013-0185-5

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