Formal Description Technique


Formal Description Technique

(specification, protocol)(FDT) A formal method fordeveloping telecomunications services and protocols. FDTsrange from abstract to implementation-oriented descriptions.All FDTs offer the means for producing unambiguousdescriptions of OSI services and protocols in a moreprecise and comprehensive way than natural languagedescriptions. They provide a foundation for analysis andverification of a description. The target of analysis andverification may vary from abstract properties to concreteproperties. Natural language descriptions remain an essentialadjunct to formal description, enabling an unfarmiliar readerto gain rapid insight into the structure and function ofservices and protocols.

Examples of FDTs are LOTOS, Z, SDL, and Estelle.

[ISO/IEC DTR10167: "Guidelines for the application ofEstelle, LOTOS and SDL"].