Open Collections

UBC Theses and Dissertations

UBC Theses Logo
Featured Collection

UBC Theses and Dissertations

GrafTab: an innovative requirements specification method for a PLC system So, So-ming

Abstract

The flexibility and intelligence of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) has. been improved tremendously since their first appearance in 1968. Today, PLC applications range from food production to nuclear plant operation. As the applications become more complicated, the use of informal English as a medium to write the requirements specification for these PLC systems is no longer adequate or satisfactory. A new semi-formal specification method, GrafTab, is introduced in this thesis. It is characterized by a graphical and tabular description method. A complete requirements specification in GrafTab consists of a system abstract, a monitored and controlled variable specification, an external interface document, and a system requirements document. GrafTab, is a powerful method that offers an unambiguous, complete, and readable requirements specification document. Since each document in GrafTab possesses a formal syntax, mechanisms for transforming a GrafTab specification into two executable programs (ladder diagram and SFC) are developed as well. A method to analyze the performance of these programs directly from the specification is included in this thesis.

Item Metadata

Title
GrafTab: an innovative requirements specification method for a PLC system
Creator
So, So-ming
Publisher
University of British Columbia
Date Issued
1995
Description
The flexibility and intelligence of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) has. been improved tremendously since their first appearance in 1968. Today, PLC applications range from food production to nuclear plant operation. As the applications become more complicated, the use of informal English as a medium to write the requirements specification for these PLC systems is no longer adequate or satisfactory. A new semi-formal specification method, GrafTab, is introduced in this thesis. It is characterized by a graphical and tabular description method. A complete requirements specification in GrafTab consists of a system abstract, a monitored and controlled variable specification, an external interface document, and a system requirements document. GrafTab, is a powerful method that offers an unambiguous, complete, and readable requirements specification document. Since each document in GrafTab possesses a formal syntax, mechanisms for transforming a GrafTab specification into two executable programs (ladder diagram and SFC) are developed as well. A method to analyze the performance of these programs directly from the specification is included in this thesis.
Extent
6758757 bytes
Genre
Thesis/Dissertation
Type
Text
File Format
application/pdf
Language
eng
Date Available
2009-01-31
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
DOI
10.14288/1.0064918
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/4059
Degree
Master of Applied Science - MASc
Program
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Affiliation
Applied Science, Faculty of; Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of
Degree Grantor
University of British Columbia
Graduation Date
1995-11
Campus
UBCV
Scholarly Level
Graduate
Aggregated Source Repository
DSpace

Item Media

Item Citations and Data

Rights

For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.