The application of LOTOS for the formal description of the ISO session layer

In November 1985, ISO/TC97/SC21 installed an ad-hoc working group of WG6 with the purpose of formally describing the session standard by application of the formal description technique LOTOS. This paper explains the background of this decision, discusses the design principles of the session layer specification in LOTOS, and presents the formal description of the session service and protocol on basis of a number of specification samples. Finally, some conclusions are drawn from this large-scale specification experience