An Estelle-based probabilistic partial timed protocol verification system

Abstract

Complete verification of communication protocols is usually very hard to achieve due to the combinatorial state space explosion problem. Probability based partial verification provides an alternative solution to solve this problem. We adopt a Timed Communicating State Machine (TCSM), which belongs to the Extended Communicating Finite State Machine (ECFSM) model, to formally specify protocols that incorporate timed properties as part of their specifications. Based on the TCSM model, we propose a probabilistic timed verification scheme that is based on the occurrence rates of communicating entities' transitions and occurrence probabilities of channel entities' transitions. Using our probabilistic partial timed protocol verification scheme, an Estelle based Probabilistic Partial Timed Protocol verification system, which is called PTPVS, is developed on SUN SPARC workstations. In this way, protocol designers can use PTPVS to design and partially verify Estelle based protocol specifications with time properties.