Providing automated support to deductive analysis of time critical systems

Abstract

We report on our experience in using a general purpose theorem prover to provide mechanical support to deductive analysis of specifications written in the TRIO temporal logic, and on applying the resulting tool to a widely known case study in the field of time. and safety-critical systems. First, we illustrate the required features for a general purpose theorem prover to satisfy our needs, we provide a rationale for our choice, and we briefly illustrate how TRIO was encoded into the prover's logic. Then we present the case study used to validate the obtained TRIO prover and to assess the overall approach. Finally we discuss the encouraging results of our experiment and provide some technical and methodological suggestions to researchers and practitioners willing to use our tool to analyze TRIO specifications, or aiming at customizing a general purpose theorem prover on any other formal language, especially if based on temporal logics.