Semantically extended dataflow diagrams: a formal specification tool

摘要

A method for associating a dataflow diagram (DFD) with a formal specification is described. The intention is to enhance the use of the DFD as a formal specification tool, thus gaining a tool that can be used to document application functionality in an understandable manner and, at the same time, be capable of producing a formal specification that can be used to rigorously investigate the semantic properties of the application. It is shown how the formal specifications characterizing semantic models of DFDs can be used to investigate desired application properties of verify semantic decompositions of data transforms.