1997 Volume 5 Issue 3 Pages 19-31
This paper presents a software development method for sequence control systems used in production systems. We introduce State-Fence Diagrams (SFD) in which we describe dynamic behavior of objects in a system. An SFD can be converted from a event trace diagram, which is often used in system analysis for sequence control systems. An SFD includes three description styles according to the purpose. We use virtual objects which graphically represent the objects in a system for a prototype, simulation and actual operation. We then propose a software development method using SFD and virtual objects. Communications between software developers and users are promoted by using graphical representations of software specifications and objects.
