152 Journal of E-Technology Volume 1 Number 3 August 2010 Formal Specification and Verification of Concepts in Information Language in ODP Systems Jalal Laassiri, Saïd El Hajji, Mohamed Bouhdadi University Mohammed V-Agdal, Faculty of Sciences Laboratory of Mathematic and Informatics and Applications Rabat, Morocco Laassiri.jalal@gmail.com, [El Hajji, Bouhdadi]@ fsr.ac.ma ABSTRACT: Distributed systems can be very large and complex and the many different considerations which influence their design can result in a substantial body of specification, which needs a structuring framework if it is to be managed successfully. The purpose of the RM-ODP is to define such a framework. The Reference Model for Open Distributed Processing (RM-ODP) provides a framework within which support of distribution, inter-working and portability can be integrated. It defines: an object model, architectural concepts and architecture for the development of ODP systems in terms of five viewpoints. However, RM-ODP is a meta-norm, and several ODP standards have to be defined. Indeed, the viewpoint languages are abstract in sense that they define what concepts should be supported and not how these concepts should be represented using the UML/OCL meta-modeling approach. In this paper, we report on the definition and address of the syntax and semantics for a fragment of ODP object concepts defined in the RM-ODP foundations part and in the information language. These concepts are suitable for describing and constraining ODP information viewpoint specifications. Keywords: RM-ODP, Information Language, Structural Concepts, Denotational Meta-modeling Semantics, UML/OCL, PIM, PSM and MDA. Received: 4 March 2010, Revised 18 April 2010, Accepted 28 April 2010 © DLINE. All rights reserved 1. Introduction The rapid growth of distributed processing has led to a need of coordinating framework for the standardization of Open Distributed Processing (ODP). The open distributed processing (ODP) computational viewpoint describes the functionality of a system and its environment in terms of a configuration of objects interacting at interfaces, independently of their distribution. Quality of service (QoS) contracts and service level agreements are an integral part of any computational specification, which is specified in ODP in terms of environment contracts. The Reference Model for ODP (RM-ODP) [1]-[4] provides such a framework. It creates an architecture supporting distribution, networking and portability. The foundations part [2] contains the definition of concepts and analytical framework for normalized description of (arbitrary) distributed processing systems. These concepts are gathered in several categories including basic modeling concepts, specification concepts, organizational concepts, and structuring concepts. The architecture part [3] contains specifications of the required characteristics that qualify distributed processing to be open. It defines a framework containing: • Five viewpoints called: enterprise, information, computation, engineering and technology; which provide a basis for the ODP systems specification • A language for each viewpoint, defining concepts and rules to specify ODP systems from the corresponding viewpoint. • Specifications of functions required to support ODP systems. • Transparency prescriptions, showing how to use the ODP functions to achieve distribution transparency.