Modeling and Formal Verification of IMPP

Sohel Khan and Abdul Waheed Abdul Sattar
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: This paper describes the modeling and formal verification of the application layer protocol, Instant Messaging and Presence Protocol (IMPP). Spin is a model checker for the verification of asynchronous, distributed and concurrent finite state systems. It accepts the system specification in a high level language called PROcess MEta LAnguage (PROMELA( and verification claims in temporal logic. We have selected Instant Messaging and Presence Protocol (IMPP) for modeling, simulation and verification as it is characterized by concurrency and distributed computing, which makes it a good candidate to explore the potential of model checking and verification. Further, the important properties of the protocol are verified using Linear Temporal Logic (LTL). One of our aims was also to get an insight into the scope and utility of formal methods based on state space exploration in testing larger and complex software systems which has been achieved to some extent.

Keywords: Formal methods, verification of communication protocols, instant messaging systems, verification tools, spin, LTL, PROMELA.

Received March 14, 2004; accepted July 7, 2004