A workbench for synthesising behaviour models from scenarios

Abstract

Scenario-based specifications such as Message Sequence Charts (MSCs) are becoming increasingly popular as part of a requirements specification. Our objective is to facilitate the development of behaviour models in conjunction with scenarios. In this paper, we first present an MSC language with semantics in terms of labelled transition systems and parallel composition. The language integrates existing languages based on the use of high-level MSCs (hMSCs) and on identifying component states. This integration allows stakeholders to break up scenario specifications into manageable parts using hMCSs and to explicitly introduce additional information and domain-specific or other assumptions using state labels. Secondly, we present an algorithm, implemented in Java, which translates scenarios into a specification in the form of Finite Sequential Processes. This can then be fed to the labelled transition system analyser for model checking and animation. Finally we show how many of the assumptions embedded in existing synthesis approaches can be translated into our approach. Thus we provide the basis of a common workbench for supporting MSC specifications, behaviour synthesis and analysis.