Formal methods testing

Hence, if it does seem appropriate formally to test whether and to what extent mentees have learned, one or more of the following methods could be used ... 

Different approaches may be used to validate the sample preparation component of the dissolution test. However, it is important to understand that the objective of validation is to demonstrate that the procedure is suitable for its intended purpose. For example, one of the strategies will demonstrate the validity of different aspects of sample preparation during method development (prior to the formal method validation exercise). As a result, the final validation experiments will confirm the work done during method development. The strategy that will be followed for the method development and validation process will depend on the culture, expertise, and strategy of the analytical laboratory. 

Test method standardization (TMS) calls for several actions that involve 1) preparation of a formal draft test method document for each bioassay intended for standardization, 2) a critical review by an expert subcommittee, 3) the preparation of a final draft test method, 4) an international peer review of each test method, 5) an inter-calibration exercise of the final draft test method, 6) finalization of each test method and 7) the formal publication of the toxicity test method document. Environment Canada (EC) has been particularly active in biological test method standardization and has thus far contributed 18 standardized aquatic and sediment... 

To further test whether the series is stationary, a formal method called unit roots test is provided. The results of unit roots test can be seen in table 2. 

The problem arises when attempting to statistically evaluate the degree of congruence between trees from different data sets. Among several formal methods which have been developed, we used the Mantel test (1967). This is a non parametric procedure, based on randomization, which generates statistical sign ificance levels for correlational measures of similarity between distance matrices. We selected this... 

Identifying the role of S/W reviews and inspections, formal methods, static code analysis and testing in S/W V V. 

As is well known, the complexity of current VLSI has been increasing very rapidly. Traditional simulation methods cannot exhaustively test all cases so that the correctness of products cannot be guaranteed. Formal methods is therefore used to deal with this problem. Formal methods are based on mathematical methods and thus can ensure the correemess in a very rigorous way. We choose ITL as our basic formalism. 

The use of static analysis, dynamic analysis or failure analysis to form all equivalence classes (blackbox test data), which can reduce number of test cases. Also the use of structured design or semi-formal methods or statistical evidence can permit a reduced depth and number of test cases. 

Some of the proposed methods cannot be called formal methods in the rigorous understanding of the term. However, even methods which are based on semi-formal reasoning and non-exhaustive testing provide some limited guarantees in their specific context. A valued property of the formal methods is... 

The assurance of critical systems was discussed for approaches that employ formal methods and testing for applications as well as underlying software layers. In addition, a number of results that target specific domains such as military systems, safety-critical product lines and peer-to-peer control and data acquisition systems were presented. These papers provided a good introduction into the specific requirements of these domains and presented specific solutions for their domain. Furthermore, the interplay of architecture modeling and existing domain-specific safety standards was discussed in the context of automotive systems. 

How a product is specified, designed, reviewed and tested has an impact on its suitability to perform safety related tasks. There is an analogy here with PES (Programmable Electronic Systems), for which ISO 61508 asks for justification for die level of rigour applied to development activities. In that context, for sensitive applications, the need for formal methods is to be considered. Although considered, the need for formal methods has been discounted for the ciurent range of Trust applications. 

In an ideal world where eost is no objeet, we would prefer to do eomprehensive testing as well as proof where practieal using formal methods. However, that sounds expensive, and you are unlikely to make mueh headway if that is your ap-proaeh. The airline exeeutive in eharge of eost-eontrol will not listen to you, and historieally there has been some antagonism to formal methods based on this eon-cem of inereased eosts. 

As discussed above, formal reasoning about programs can play an important part in the development of reliable programs, and indeed it seems clear that increased use of and relianee on formal methods is happening now, and will continue to be more important in the future. However, it also seems clear that testing will continue to play a significant role, since some properties ean only be addressed in praetiee by testing. 

---