A graphic SDL support environment

Abstract

An SDL toolset is presented which is based on the semantics and syntax of the design language SDL recommended by the CCITT. SDL has been developed for the specification of telecommunication systems. In the meantime it has been accepted by a wider user community for the description of various real time systems. In this way a first version of the SDL tool is currently being used in the development of the telephone exchange HICOM as well as in the field of automation technology. The toolset supports the design phase and initiates the implementation and test phase. The drawing of SDL block diagrams, process diagrams, tree diagrams and sequence charts is essentially facilitated by workstations with raster graphics. At present the SDL tool is implemented on the SICOMP WS 30 UNIX workstation. The diagrams can be syntactically checked and there is the possibility of an automatic generation of different target codes. In addition validation tools are incorporated such as to check liveness properties or to simulate the dynamic behaviour before implementation. Further, connections to other software tools are planned that support requirements engineering.