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Front Comput Sci Chin    2010, Vol. 4 Issue (2) : 162-172    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11704-010-0151-y
RESEARCH ARTICLE
A concern-based approach to generating formal requirements specifications
Ying JIN1(), Jing ZHANG1, Weiping HAO1, Pengfei MA1, Yan ZHANG1, Haiyan ZHAO2, Hong MEI2
1. College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China; 2. Institute of Software Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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Abstract

Document driven requirements analysis, as proposed by Prof. David Parnas, which has had some success in practice, focuses on creating concise and complete formal requirements documents to serve as references for formal verification, software design, implementation, testing, inspection, and so on. However, at present large number of requirements documents are still written in natural languages. Therefore, generating formal requirements specification from informal textual requirements description has become a big challenge. In this paper, a concern-based approach to generating formal requirements specification from textual requirements document is proposed, which applies separation of concerns during requirements analysis and utilizes concerns and their relationships to bridge the gap between textual requirements statements and formal requirements documentation. A tool suite has been developed for supporting our approach, and a case study has been performed to illustrate the process of our approach. Results indicate that our approach facilitates guiding the process of formal requirements documentation with concerns and their relationships.
Keywords document driven requirements analysis method      separation of concerns      concern relationship graph      4-variable model      formal requirements documentation      requirements management     
Corresponding Author(s): JIN Ying,Email:jinying@jlu.edu.cn   
Issue Date: 05 June 2010
 Cite this article:   
Weiping HAO,Pengfei MA,Yan ZHANG, et al. A concern-based approach to generating formal requirements specifications[J]. Front Comput Sci Chin, 2010, 4(2): 162-172.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcs/EN/10.1007/s11704-010-0151-y
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcs/EN/Y2010/V4/I2/162
Fig.1  Process of concern-based requirements engineering
Fig.1  Process of concern-based requirements engineering
Fig.2  4-variable model
Fig.2  4-variable model
Fig.3  Bidirectional requirements tracing
Fig.3  Bidirectional requirements tracing
Fig.4  Three layers of concerns
Fig.4  Three layers of concerns
Fig.5  Categories of concerns and their node shapes
Fig.5  Categories of concerns and their node shapes
NameExplanation
kindsOfRelationship between two concerns of kinds
instancesOfRelationship from one concern of kinds to one concern of instance
appliesToRelationship from one concern of kinds or instances to one concern of properties
partsOfRelationship between two instance concerns or two properties concerns
relatesToRelationship from one concern of topic to one concern of kind
dependentOnRelationship from one concern whose requirements depend on requirements of another concern
motivateToReverse relationship of dependentOn. If one C1 dependentOn C2, we have C2 motiveTo C1
Tab.1  Concern relationships and their edge colors
Fig.6  Labeled requirements statements of Hallway section in LCS
Fig.6  Labeled requirements statements of Hallway section in LCS
Fig.7  Concern relationship graph (a)
Fig.7  Concern relationship graph (a)
Fig.8  Concern relationship graph (b)
Fig.8  Concern relationship graph (b)
Fig.9  Tool architecture
Fig.9  Tool architecture
Fig.10  Snapshot of Integrated Environment
Fig.10  Snapshot of Integrated Environment
IdDesReqsCategory
HS (light system)Light system in hallway section{FM1-2,NF3-4,U13-14,FM6-7,FM4}topic
FMFrame manager{FM1-2,NF3, U14,NF4-7}kinds
USERUser related function{FM1-2,NF3, U14,NF5}kinds
CSControl system{U13-14,FM1-2, FM4,6-7,NF3-5}kinds
SIsafe illumination{U13}instances
JOJudge Occupied{FM2,FM6,U14, NF4,U13,NF3}kinds
OLSOutdoor light signal{FM1}instances
JSNJudge whether the control system normal{NF5}kinds
OLSMOutdoor light sensor malfunction{NF3,FM7}kinds
MDMMotion sensor malfunction{NF4}kinds
MALMalfunction{FM7,NF3,NF4}kinds
TIMETiming{FM2,FM4}properties
MDMotion detector{U14}instance
SIGSignal{FM1,U14}kinds
OverrideOverride control{FM6,FM7}instances
T2iManager controls timing{FM4}instances
FMCPFrame manager control panel{FM4,FM6,FM7}kinds
Tab.2  Concerns specification
Fig.11  Concern relationship graph
Fig.11  Concern relationship graph
Fig.12  Specification of some identified variables
Fig.12  Specification of some identified variables
Fig.13  Tabular expression (TE)
Fig.13  Tabular expression (TE)
Fig.14  Trace matrix
Fig.14  Trace matrix
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