Project Title:

Structured Analysis and Generation of Requirements

06.02-3900
Structured Analysis and Generation of
	Requirements
Applied Logic Systems, Inc.
PO Box 90
University Station
Syracuse, NY 13210
Kenneth A. Bowen  (315-471-3900)
KSC -- NAS10-11465

Abstract:

	 This project addressed the construction of an automated support system for development,
verification, and maintenance of computer software. Its purpose was to overcome problems
created by an inadequate understanding of the target problem which often leads to
incorrect requirements and specifications for programming projects, especially for
distributed systems. Specifically, Phase I explored the feasibility of a system which
would generate a program to support experimentation with a model of the problem so
as to develop formal specifications for the desired software package. 
	The research in Phase I was carried out on Sun workstations. A windowing system
was used to provide a front-end to the firm's Prolog program to enable construction
and annotation of diagrams that represent a problem. Prolog captures an abstract
representation of the diagrams and transforms these into a set of Concurrent Prolog
clauses. The multiple window environment traces the execution of the Prolog program
together with animation of the structured analysis diagram. The prototype system
generated in Phase I demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed system.

Potential Commercial Application:

Potential Commercial Application: The proposed software development and support system
would be applicable for large-scale programming projects which occur widely in governmental,
commercial, and military activities.