The design of Distributed Real-time Embedded (DRE) architecture models for complex and critical systems with safety, liveness, timeliness, dependability concerns, forces the use of formal languages. Because of the high level of criticity, proof techniques are required instead of model-checking with limitations relatively to the state space explosion problems.

Proofs of these non-functional properties can only be established on the basis of formal languages with high verification capabilities (theorem provers).

Therefore, we have concentrated our efforts on the development of a methodology that would better integrate formal aspects into the design of DRE architectures, which is usually based upon the use of (semi-formal) Architecture Design Languages (ADLs). This methodology has both to support the traceability of non-functional property proofs (from the requirements to the deployment of a DRE system) and the integration of formal and non formal modelling languages.