Constructive consistency checking for partial specification in Z

Partial specification is a method of specifying complex systems in which th e system is described by a collection of specifications, each approaching t he system from a different viewpoint. The specification notation Z is often advocated as a suitable language for this style of specification. For coll ections of partial specifications to be meaningful, they need to be consist ent, i.e. they should not impose contradictory requirements. This paper add resses how the consistency between partial specifications in Z can be check ed, by constructing unifications, i.e. least common refinements, of viewpoi nt specifications. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.