Towards a requirements definition, specification and system design environment

The authors provide an overview of techniques for the specification of complex, heterogeneous systems, i.e. microsystems or automotive control systems including hardware (analog and digital electronics, mechanical or optical actuators and sensors) and software. An approach to an integrated environment to support and control the requirement definition, specification and system design phases is described. This approach combines behavioral, functional, and data-oriented specifications based on formal languages, as well as knowledge-based concepts for the acquisition of a complete description of the goals, requirements, and constraints related to a system design project. Within this environment, existing commercial specification and system design tools have been integrated into a CAE framework and new tools have been developed to support early requirement definition, specification flow control, early validation of specification, and specification data management