Abstract: A technique for testing event driven software. In accordance with the technique, the source code of the event driven software is directly converted to an automation based model useful in verifying that the program code complies with the desired properties defined by the user. More particularly, the event driven system program code is translated into a target language for a particular model checker. Such a translation results in a model which contains statements directed at whether execution of the program code will affect the behavior of the event driven system. Thus, this model extraction process can be used as input to a logic model checker for determining whether event driven system complies with the desired correctness properties specified by the user. Advantageously, the model extraction process and application of the model checker occurs in a direct and dynamic fashion from the subject event driven system program code without the need for user intervention.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for communicating using protocols. The apparatus and methods employ protocol descriptions written in a device-independent protocol description language. A protocol is executed by employing a protocol description language interpreter to interpret the protocol description. Communication using any protocol for which there is a protocol description may be done by means of a general protocol. The general protocol includes a first general protocol message which includes a protocol description for a specific protocol. The protocol apparatus which receives the first protocol message employs a protocol description language interpreter to interpret the included protocol description and thereby to execute the specific protocol.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for editing message sequence charts and determining whether a message sequence chart is consistent with a semantic of the system which the message sequence chart represents. As an editor, the apparatus maintains an internal representation of the message sequence chart as a set of processes and events, displays an image of the message sequence chart, and modifies the internal representation in response to modifications of the image by the user. The internal representation can be used to produce further representations of the message sequence chart. One of the representations is an event list which lists send events and receive events in the message sequence chart in a visual order. The event list is used together with a semantic provided by the user of the apparatus to determine whether there is an inconsistency between the message sequence chart and the semantic.