An Object-Oriented Model for the FIP Protocol

This paper introduces an ongoing project aimed at using object oriented modeling as a complete and flexible technique to describe and analyze protocols and distributed applications. In particular, a description of the FIP fieldbus protocol is presented indicating the approach which is to be followed so that it can be expressed in a complete and unambiguous way in order to ensure performance evaluation, and rapid prototyping. Fieldbus issues are first discussed and then the object oriented approach for protocol specification is considered in detail describing the specification of the FIP protocol. Particular attention has been paid to the definition of a model suited to the representation of time constraints and for this purpose a concurrent object model has been used.