An integrated approach to protocol design

Three existing protocol modeling techniques have been combined into a design methodology for communication protocols: Petri nets, formal grammars, and programming languages. The steps involved in the structured design of a protocol are presented, and the role of models in the design process is discussed. The three protocol modeling methods are evaluated, and each is used to its best advantage in the creation of an integrated design approach. The approach is described and then illustrated with an example. Conclusions are drawn, and directions for future work are discussed.<>