On synchronization and its specification

Abstract

We introduce a very high level language for specifying synchronization properties. It is designed using the primitives of temporal logic which facilitates the specification of both invariant and time-dependent properties. The paper begins with a discussion of properties that affect synchronization. The specification language then introduced features constructs to express each of these in a fairly natural and modular fashion. Since the statements in the language have intuitive interpretations, specifications are humanly readable. Also, since they possess appropriate formal semantics, unambiguous specifications result.