Apparatus and method for generating requirement specifications.
Résumé
It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide an improved data processing apparatus and method for
generating real-time system requirement specifications. The foregoing and other objectives are achieved by the
subject matter of the independent claims. Further implementation forms are apparent from the dependent claims, the
description and the figures.
According to a first aspect a data processing apparatus is provided. The data processing apparatus comprises a
processing entity, for instance, one or more processors, configured to parse one or more real-time system
requirement specifications expressed in a pseudo-natural language. The processing entity is further configured to
transform, based on a set of transformation rules defined by a formal grammar, the one or more real time system
requirement specifications expressed in the pseudo-natural language into one or more real-time system requirement
specifications expressed using a temporal logic. Moreover, the processing entity is configured to perform a
consistency check of the one or more real-time system requirement specifications expressed using the temporal logic
based on one or more formal models and generate a result of the consistency check expressed using the temporal
logic. The processing entity is further configured to translate the result of the consistency check expressed using
the temporal logic back into a result of the consistency check expressed in the pseudo-natural language. Thus,
advantageously, an improved data processing apparatus for generating and translating real-time system requirement
specifications in a bidirectional way is provided.
In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the formal grammar comprises for at least one of the
one or more real-time system requirement statements expressed using the temporal logic at least two real-time
system requirement statements expressed in the pseudo-natural language. In other words, redundant mapping is
provided.
In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the one or more real-time system requirement
specifications comply with Montague semantics (also referred to as Montague grammar). Montague grammar is an
approach to natural language semantics based on mathematical logic, especially higher-order predicate logic and
lambda calculus, and makes use of the notions of intentional logic.
In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the data processing apparatus further comprises a
user interface and/or a communication interface configured to receive the one or more real-time system requirement
specifications expressed in the pseudo-natural language and/or to output the result of the consistency check
expressed in the pseudo-natural language.
In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the temporal logic is a linear temporal logic, LTL.
According to a second aspect, a computer-implemented data processing method is provided. The computer-implemented
data processing method comprises the steps of: parsing one or more real-time system requirement specifications
expressed in a pseudo natural language; transforming, based on a set of transformation rules defined by a formal
grammar, the one or more real-time system requirement specifications expressed in the pseudo-natural language into
one or more real-time system requirement specifications expressed using a temporal logic; performing a consistency
check of the one or more real-time system requirement specifications expressed using the temporal logic based on
one or more formal models; generating a result of the consistency check expressed using the temporal logic; and
translating the result of the consistency check expressed using the temporal logic back into a result of the
consistency check expressed in the pseudo-natural language.
In a further possible implementation form of the second aspect, the formal grammar comprises for at least one of
the one or more real-time system requirement statements expressed using the temporal logic at least two real-time
system requirement statements expressed in the pseudo-natural language.
In a further possible implementation form of the second aspect, the one or more real-time system requirement
specifications comply with Montague semantics.
In a further possible implementation form of the second aspect, the computer- implemented data processing method
further comprises the steps of receiving the one or more real-time system requirement specifications expressed in
the pseudo-natural language, for instance, from a user and/or outputting the result of the consistency check
expressed in the pseudo-natural language, for instance, to a user.
In a further possible implementation form of the second aspect, the temporal logic is a linear temporal logic, LTL.
According to a third aspect a computer program product is provided, comprising a computer-readable storage medium
for storing program code which causes a computer or a processor to perform the type matching method according to
the second aspect, when the program code is executed by the computer or the processor.
Details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other
features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description, drawings, and claims.