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Combination of methods and techniques

Several works in our project show how to combine complementary analysis techniques in order to tackle complex validation problems.

  1. static analysis techniques such as slicing techniques and live variable analysis are used to generate reduced models (finite-state or extended automata) which are analyzed using model-checking algorithms or symbolic reachability analysis procedures.
  2. abstraction techniques are used to generate automatically (abstract) extended automata which can be analyzed using model-checking algorithms or symbolic reachability analysis techniques.
  3. conversely, symbolic reachability analysis procedures for infinite-state systems are used to generate automatically finite-state abstract models which are analyzed using model-checking algorithms. This approach was applied to the analysis of protocols with complex relations between their variables and parameters.
  4. abstraction techniques and finite-state model-checking are used in deriving candidate induction assertions, and to prove that the candidate assertions are indeed inductive. This methodology has been applied to the verification of nontrivial parametrized systems such as mutual exclusion protocols and cache coherence protocols.