LOTOS quality control methods using simulation technology

Summary form only given. This paper reports on developments in simulation technologies to support the formal language LOTOS and experience using these techniques in the communications field. LOTOS simulation is currently applied to effect quality control through a large part of the development lifecycle. Its first application is in interaction with the non specialist user who needs to understand a formal specification as a customer. This class of use extends to the LOTOS user who will often use simulation as a tool for specification development. The capability to execute specifications also means that they can be tested using much of the theory and practice of software testing. Used in this way simulation provides a flexible and powerful framework for quality control which can exploit much of industries existing expertise and investment in testing technologies