This volume studies the advances of software for computers, their development, applications and management. Topics covered include software project management, real time languages and their uses, and computer aided design techniques. The book also discusses how far artificial intelligence is integrated with business and industry to give a complete overview of the role of computer systems today.

This seventh IFAC workshop on distributed control systems (DCCS) discusses the ideas of real-time synchronization and data consistency in industry, with emphasis on the Manufacturing Automation Protocol (MAP). The volume also debates the gulf between the computer scientist's approach to language and the needs of the application programmer. In addition to treating relevant topics, each session has an introductory paper and a panel discussion, to give a complete picture of the progress and research in this computer field today.

The proceedings of the fifth workshop in this subject continue the trend set by the previous four and discusses some of the current problems involved in the design and production of safe real-time computer systems. Topics covered include software quality assurance, software fault tolerance, design for safety, and reliability and safety assessment. Every paper details the theoretical and practical problems involved in the development of safe systems and should therefore be of interest to all those involved in systems design.

The market for safe, secure and reliable computer systems is expanding continuously and these Proceedings provide an opportunity to review the growth during the last decade and identify skills and technologies required for continued development in the area. The papers cover the experiences gained from specifying, creating, operating, and licensing computers in safety, security and reliability related applications. There are reviews of guidelines and industrial applications, with a section covering methods and tools used in designing, documenting, analysing, testing and assessing systems dependent on the SAFECOMP factors.

Software Diversity is one of the fault-tolerance means to achieve dependable systems. In this volume, some experimental systems as well as real-life applications of software diversity are presented. The history, the current state-of-the-art and future perspectives are given. Although this technique is used quite successfully in industrial applications, further research is necessary to solve some open questions. We hope to report on new results and applications in another volume of this series within some years. Acknowledgements The idea of the workshop was put forward by the chairpersons of IFIP WG lOA, J. -c. Laprie, J. F. Meyer and Y. Tohma, in January 1986, and the edi tor of this volume was asked to organize the workshop. This volume was edited with the assistance of the editors of the series, A. AviZienis, H. Kopetz and J. -C. Laprie, who also had the function of reviewers. Karlsruhe, October 1987 U. Voges, Editor Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1. Introduction U. Voges 2. Railway Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 ERICSSON Safety System for Railway Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 G. Hagelin 3. Nuclear Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Use of Diversity in Experimental Reactor Safety Systems . 29 U. Voges The PODS Diversity Experiment . 51 P. G. Bishop 4. Flight Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 AIRBUS and ATR System Architecture and Specification. . 95 P. Traverse 5. University Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Tolerating Software Design Faults in a Command and Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 T. Anderson, P. A. Barrett, D. N. Halliwell, M. R. Moulding DEDIX 87 - A Supervisory System for Design Diversity Experiments at UCLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Digital computers are now used routinely in on-line control systems. As applications become more complex and costs of developing software rise, the need for good software tools becomes vital. This volume presents 14 papers on the most recent developments within real-time programming - languages for real-time programming, software development tools and the application of real-time systems within industry.

SAFECOMP '92 advances the state-of-the-art, reviews experiences of the past years, considers the guidance now available and identifies the skills, methods, tools and techniques required for the safety of computer control systems.