Towards a Petri Net Based Semantics Definition for Message

Within the study period 1988 - 1992 of the CCITT the work on Message Sequence Chart (MSC) within the CCITT Study Group X focussed on the definition of the graphical and textual syntax of MSC and on the development of a corresponding informal semantics definition to explain the meaning of the standardized MSC constructs. Within Study Group X it has been decided that the new study period should be used to provide a formal semantics definition for the existing MSC recommendation. The discussion about a suitable model for MSC semantics started at a CCITT interims meeting in Geneva, November 1992. The semantics models for MSC discussed at this meeting are based on Process Algebra, Automata Theory, and Petri Nets. In this paper the Petri Net based approach is presented. <br>(For a paper copy please contact Jens Grabowski.)