Towards more efficient requirements formalization: A study

Wenbin Li; Jane Huffman Hayes; Mirosław Truszczyński

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-16101-3_12

Towards more efficient requirements formalization: A study

Wenbin Li, Jane Huffman Hayes, Mirosław Truszczyński

Computer Science

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

[Context and motivation] Validating natural language requirements is an important but difficult task. Although there are techniques available for validating formalized requirements, the gap between natural language requirements and formalism is huge. [Question/problem] As part of a larger piece of work on temporal requirements consistency checking, we developed a front end to semi-automatically translate natural language requirements into an formal language called Temporal Action Language or TeAL. This work is based on an underlying assumption that human analysts can assist us in filling in the missing pieces as we translate natural language temporal requirements to TeAL.[Principal ideas/results] We performed a study to validate this assumption. We found that using the statements generated by our frontend tool appears to be more effective and efficient than a manual process. [Contribution] We present the design of our front-end and a study that measures the performance of human analysts in formalizing requirements with the help of an automated tool.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Requirements Engineering
Subtitle of host publication	Foundation for Software Quality - 21st International Working Conference, REFSQ 2015, Proceedings
Editors	Samuel A. Fricker, Kurt Schneider
Pages	181-197
Number of pages	17
ISBN (Electronic)	9783319161006
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16101-3_12
State	Published - 2015
Event	21st International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality, REFSQ 2015 - Essen, Germany Duration: Mar 23 2015 → Mar 26 2015

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume	9013
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	21st International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality, REFSQ 2015
Country/Territory	Germany
City	Essen
Period	3/23/15 → 3/26/15

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015.

Keywords

Formal specification
Requirement comprehension
Temporal requirements
Translation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Theoretical Computer Science
General Computer Science

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-319-16101-3_12

Cite this

Li, W., Hayes, J. H., & Truszczyński, M. (2015). Towards more efficient requirements formalization: A study. In S. A. Fricker, & K. Schneider (Eds.), Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality - 21st International Working Conference, REFSQ 2015, Proceedings (pp. 181-197). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); Vol. 9013). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16101-3_12

Li, Wenbin ; Hayes, Jane Huffman ; Truszczyński, Mirosław. / Towards more efficient requirements formalization : A study. Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality - 21st International Working Conference, REFSQ 2015, Proceedings. editor / Samuel A. Fricker ; Kurt Schneider. 2015. pp. 181-197 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)).

@inproceedings{87030d87c7cb46bfad4aa55ae0a58530,

title = "Towards more efficient requirements formalization: A study",

abstract = "[Context and motivation] Validating natural language requirements is an important but difficult task. Although there are techniques available for validating formalized requirements, the gap between natural language requirements and formalism is huge. [Question/problem] As part of a larger piece of work on temporal requirements consistency checking, we developed a front end to semi-automatically translate natural language requirements into an formal language called Temporal Action Language or TeAL. This work is based on an underlying assumption that human analysts can assist us in filling in the missing pieces as we translate natural language temporal requirements to TeAL.[Principal ideas/results] We performed a study to validate this assumption. We found that using the statements generated by our frontend tool appears to be more effective and efficient than a manual process. [Contribution] We present the design of our front-end and a study that measures the performance of human analysts in formalizing requirements with the help of an automated tool.",

keywords = "Formal specification, Requirement comprehension, Temporal requirements, Translation",

author = "Wenbin Li and Hayes, {Jane Huffman} and Miros{\l}aw Truszczy{\'n}ski",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015.; 21st International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality, REFSQ 2015 ; Conference date: 23-03-2015 Through 26-03-2015",

year = "2015",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-319-16101-3_12",

language = "English",

series = "Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)",

pages = "181--197",

editor = "Fricker, {Samuel A.} and Kurt Schneider",

booktitle = "Requirements Engineering",

}

Li, W, Hayes, JH & Truszczyński, M 2015, Towards more efficient requirements formalization: A study. in SA Fricker & K Schneider (eds), Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality - 21st International Working Conference, REFSQ 2015, Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics), vol. 9013, pp. 181-197, 21st International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality, REFSQ 2015, Essen, Germany, 3/23/15. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16101-3_12

Towards more efficient requirements formalization: A study. / Li, Wenbin; Hayes, Jane Huffman; Truszczyński, Mirosław.
Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality - 21st International Working Conference, REFSQ 2015, Proceedings. ed. / Samuel A. Fricker; Kurt Schneider. 2015. p. 181-197 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); Vol. 9013).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Towards more efficient requirements formalization

T2 - 21st International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality, REFSQ 2015

AU - Li, Wenbin

AU - Hayes, Jane Huffman

AU - Truszczyński, Mirosław

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - [Context and motivation] Validating natural language requirements is an important but difficult task. Although there are techniques available for validating formalized requirements, the gap between natural language requirements and formalism is huge. [Question/problem] As part of a larger piece of work on temporal requirements consistency checking, we developed a front end to semi-automatically translate natural language requirements into an formal language called Temporal Action Language or TeAL. This work is based on an underlying assumption that human analysts can assist us in filling in the missing pieces as we translate natural language temporal requirements to TeAL.[Principal ideas/results] We performed a study to validate this assumption. We found that using the statements generated by our frontend tool appears to be more effective and efficient than a manual process. [Contribution] We present the design of our front-end and a study that measures the performance of human analysts in formalizing requirements with the help of an automated tool.

AB - [Context and motivation] Validating natural language requirements is an important but difficult task. Although there are techniques available for validating formalized requirements, the gap between natural language requirements and formalism is huge. [Question/problem] As part of a larger piece of work on temporal requirements consistency checking, we developed a front end to semi-automatically translate natural language requirements into an formal language called Temporal Action Language or TeAL. This work is based on an underlying assumption that human analysts can assist us in filling in the missing pieces as we translate natural language temporal requirements to TeAL.[Principal ideas/results] We performed a study to validate this assumption. We found that using the statements generated by our frontend tool appears to be more effective and efficient than a manual process. [Contribution] We present the design of our front-end and a study that measures the performance of human analysts in formalizing requirements with the help of an automated tool.

KW - Formal specification

KW - Requirement comprehension

KW - Temporal requirements

KW - Translation

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84930459809&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84930459809&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-319-16101-3_12

DO - 10.1007/978-3-319-16101-3_12

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:84930459809

T3 - Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)

SP - 181

EP - 197

BT - Requirements Engineering

A2 - Fricker, Samuel A.

A2 - Schneider, Kurt

Y2 - 23 March 2015 through 26 March 2015

ER -

Li W, Hayes JH, Truszczyński M. Towards more efficient requirements formalization: A study. In Fricker SA, Schneider K, editors, Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality - 21st International Working Conference, REFSQ 2015, Proceedings. 2015. p. 181-197. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)). doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-16101-3_12

Towards more efficient requirements formalization: A study

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this