SPECIFICATION ARCHITECTURE ILLUSTRATED IN A COMMUNICATIONS CONTEXT

The concept of specification architecture is introduced, and its impor tance is emphasised. Three important architectural principles are offe red as a way of achieving a satisfactory specification architecture: m odularity, generality and simplicity. These are supported by subsidiar y techniques that realise them. Criteria are identified to evaluate su ccessful application of the techniques and conformance to the principl es. The approach is illustrated throughout with the example of a messa ge switch, culminating in a larger case study based on the work of the PANGLOSS project to design a high-speed message switch. (C) 1997 Else vier Science B.V.