Constructing verified and reliable communications processing systems

ABSTRACT

A comprehensive methodology that has been developed for constructing verifiably reliable and secure computing systems is summarized. The methodology can be applied to many different kinds of systems, but is specifically oriented toward communications processing systems. The methodology is a system of methods for attaining total system reliability and is based on constructing verified software and highly reliable hardware. The methodology has been formulated by bringing a diversity of advanced research concepts to bear on the real problems of communications systems. This has led to the development and integration of* program specification methods* program proof methods* program validation methods* a program design language* a program design system* hardware designs to support verified software* hardware reliability analysis and enhancement methods into a coherent methodology for constructing verifiably reliable and secure systems. The methodology has been successfully applied to the experimental design of a secure message switching system structured as a packet-switched computer network.

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