Process Algebraic Architectural Description Languages: Generalizing Component-Oriented Mismatch Detection in the Presence of Nonsynchronous Communications

TL;DR

This paper extends process algebraic architectural description languages to verify arbitrary properties in complex, nonsynchronous communication architectures, broadening the scope of component-oriented mismatch detection techniques.

Contribution

It generalizes previous results to verify any property over architectures with arbitrary topology and communication types, including behavioral and multiplicity variations.

Findings

Verification of arbitrary properties in complex architectures is possible.

Techniques are extended to handle nonsynchronous communications.

Proofs support broader applicability in architectural analysis.

Abstract

In the original paper, we showed how to enhance the expressiveness of a typical process algebraic architectural description language by including the capability of representing nonsynchronous communications. In particular, we extended the language by means of additional qualifiers enabling the designer to distinguish among synchronous, semi-synchronous, and asynchronous ports. Moreover, we showed how to modify techniques for detecting coordination mismatches such as the compatibility check for star topologies and the interoperability check for cycle topologies, in such a way that those two checks are applicable also in the presence of nonsynchronous communications. In this addendum, we generalize those results by showing that it is possible to verify in a component-oriented way an arbitrary property of a certain class (not only deadlock) over an entire architectural type having an arbitrary topology (not only stars and cycles) by considering also behavioral variations, exogenous variations, endogenous variations, and multiplicity variations, so to deal with the possible presence of nonsynchronous communications. The proofs are at the basis of some results mentioned in the book "A Process Algebraic Approach to Software Architecture Design" by Alessandro Aldini, Marco Bernardo, and Flavio Corradini, published by Springer in 2010.