A refinement-based process algebra for timed automata

Abstract

Abstract We propose a real-time extension to the process algebra CSP. Inspired by timed automata, a very successful formalism for the specification and verification of real-time systems, we handle real time by means of clocks, i.e. real-valued variables that increase at the same rate as time. This differs from the conventional approach based on timed transitions. We give a discrete trace and failures semantics to our language and define the resulting refinement relations. One advantage of our proposal is that it is possible to automatically verify refinement relations between processes. We demonstrate how this can be achieved and under which conditions.