Testing a system specified using Statecharts and Z

Abstract

A hybrid specification language µSZ, in which the dynamic behaviour of a system is described using Statecharts and the data and the data transformations are described using Z, has been developed for the specification of embedded systems. This paper describes an approach to testing from a deterministic sequential specification written in µSZ. By considering the Z specifications of the operations, the extended finite state machine (EFSM) defined by the Statechart can be rewritten to produce an EFSM that has a number of properties that simplify test generation. Test generation algorithms are introduced and applied to an example. While this paper considers µSZ specifications, the approaches described might be applied whenever the specification is an EFSM whose states and transitions are specified using a language similar to Z.

On Comparing and Complementing two MBT approaches

“…Furthermore, if we also want Model-Based Testing (MBT) to test both units and the complete system with tool support, then the informed results rapidly approaches to zero. In [1] and [2] we could not find such issues being addressed, although [3] deals with them. Hence, in this paper we address the problem outlined above, in the context of space application software.…”

“…However, it is not clear whether agendas with their derived Z schemata and Statecharts models were developed to support Model-Based Testing. Hierons and others in [3] define a MBT technique for the μSZ notation although they do not show a tool set. The main difference with our work is that we needed to develop a combined MBT methodology suitable for the tools each team already had.…”

An integrated search-based approach for automatic testing from extended finite state machine (EFSM) models

“…EFSMs can model both control and data and a number of standard modelling languages such as Statecharts and SDL can be seen as EFSMs. EFSM based test techniques can be applied to models in such languages [7,8] as well as formalisms such as (UML) Use Cases and Z and in domains such as communication protocols and web services [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14].…”

A case study: validation of guidance control software requirements for completeness, consistency and fault tolerance

“…Hierons, Sadeghipour, and Singh present a hybrid specification language µSZ [10]. The language uses Statecharts to describe the dynamical system behavior and Zed to describe the data and data transformations.…”