Aspect-oriented Specification Research Articles

Towards a comprehensive extension of abstract state machines for aspect-oriented specification

With the paradigm of aspect-orientation, a developer is able to separate the code of so-called cross-cutting concerns from the rest of the program's logic. This possibility is useful for formal specifications, too. For example, security aspects can be separated from the rest of the specification. Those aspect-oriented specifications often can be more easily reused than extensions that are implemented directly into an existing specification. Another use case is the extension of a specification with new functionality or features. Although this would be possible with refinement too, with aspect-orientation it is not necessary to augment the original specification with “extension points” that can be used for refinement.This paper describes the implementation of the aspect-oriented approach in Abstract State Machines. We introduce an aspect language with its syntax and formal semantics. It allows for specifying pointcuts where an original specification is augmented according to an aspect specification. Besides the general overview of this language extension, some ASM specific features of the realization are depicted in detail. The applicability of aspect-oriented specification in the context of ASM is demonstrated by means of examples, e.g. implementing a fading aspect into the light control system specification of a former ASM case study. Finally, the paper gives a brief overview about the developed tool that supports the writing of aspect-oriented ASMs.

Aspect-Oriented QoS Modeling for Cyber-Physical Systems

Cyber-physical systems (CPSs) are physical and engineered systems whose operations are monitored. Cyber-physical systems having quality-of-service (QoS) requirements driven by the dynamics of the physical environment in which they operate, the description, control, management, consultation and guarantee of QoS are very complex and challenging work, Quality of Service(QoS) is directly related to system's performance. This paper proposes an aspect-oriented QoS modeling method based on UML and formal methods. We use an aspect-oriented profile by the UML meta-model extension, and model the crosscutting concerns by this profile. In this paper, we build the aspect-oriented model for specifying Quality of Service (QoS) based on the combination of UML and RTL. We believe that the two types of notation, graphical (semi-formal) and, respectively, formal, can efficiently complement each other and provide the basis for an aspect-oriented specification approach that can be both rigorous and practical for QoS modeling. Two examples depict how aspect-oriented methods can be used during QoS analysis and design process.

Aspect-oriented specification of threat-driven security requirements

This paper presents an aspect-oriented approach to integrated specification of functional and security requirements based on use-case-driven software development. It relies on explicit identification of security threats and threat mitigations. We first identify security threats with respect to use-case based functional requirements in terms of security goals and the STRIDE category. Then, we suggest threat mitigations for preventing or reducing security threats. To capture the crosscutting nature of threats and mitigations, we specify them as aspects that encapsulate pointcuts and advice. This provides a structured way for separating functional and security concerns and for analysing the interaction between them.

Formal support for dynamic QoS management in the development of open component-based distributed systems

An aspect-oriented specification technique that supports the specification of component-based distributed systems is presented. Importantly, this technique also supports the synthesis of quality of service management components from particular aspects of the specification. It is described how, by using a tool to support the aspect-oriented environment, one can first specify and verify QoS management subsystems and then synthesise components that can be placed into a running system. The focus is on dynamic QoS management functions, particularly monitoring and adaptation. The approach is illustrated by giving a simple example of the dynamic QoS management of an audio stream.