This book is the sixth in a series of volumes concentrating on formal techniques applicable to distributed systems and protocols. The initial focus on techniques standardized by ISO and CCITT (Estelle, LOTOS, and SDL), widened in previous volumes to, for example, CCS, CSP, ASN.1, Z, Actor, VDM and RAISE, is yet again expanded. A strong theoretical component is balanced by a practical one, with papers included from the industrial as well as the academic communities. Offering a comprehensive presentation of the state of the art in theory, application, tools and industrialization of formal techniques, the publication provides an excellent orientation for the newcomer . By bringing together both researchers and practitioners, it also opens the communication between these groups vital for a continued cross-fertilization of knowledge and ideas for the future.

Formal Description Techniques and Protocol Specification, Testing and Verification addresses formal description techniques (FDTs) applicable to distributed systems and communication protocols. It aims to present the state of the art in theory, application, tools and industrialization of FDTs. Among the important features presented are: FDT-based system and protocol engineering; FDT-application to distributed systems; Protocol engineering; Practical experience and case studies. Formal Description Techniques and Protocol Specification, Testing and Verification comprises the proceedings of the Joint International Conference on Formal Description Techniques for Distributed Systems and Communication Protocols and Protocol Specification, Testing and Verification, sponsored by the International Federation for Information Processing, held in November 1998, Paris, France. Formal Description Techniques and Protocol Specification, Testing and Verification is suitable as a secondary text for a graduate-level course on Distributed Systems or Communications, and as a reference for researchers and practitioners in industry.

This book presents the latest research in formal techniques for distributed systems, including material on theory, applications, tools and industrial usage of formal techniques.

This book is the combined proceedings of the latest IFIP Formal Description Techniques (FDTs) and Protocol Specification, Testing and Verification (PSTV) series. It addresses FDTs applicable to communication protocols and distributed systems, with special emphasis on standardised FDTs. It features state-of-the-art in theory, application, tools and industrialisation of formal description.

Formality is becoming accepted as essential in the development of complex systems such as multi-layer communications protocols and distributed systems. Formality is mandatory for mathematical verification, a procedure being imposed on safety-critical system development. Standard documents are also becoming increasingly formalised in order to capture notions precisely and unambiguously. This FORTE '91 proceedings volume has focussed on the standardised languages SDL, Estelle and LOTOS while, as with earlier conferences, remaining open to other notations and techniques, thus encouraging the continuous evolution of formal techniques. This useful volume contains 29 submitted papers, three invited papers, four industry reports, and four tool reports organised to correspond with the conference sessions.

FORTE/PSTV '97 addresses Formal Description Techniques (FDTs) applicable to Distributed Systems and Communication Protocols (such as Estelle, LOTOS, SDL, ASN.1, TTCN, Z, Automata, Process Algebra, Logic). The conference is a forum for presentation of the state-of-the-art in theory, application, tools and industrialization of FDTs, and provides an excellent orientation for newcomers.