154 research outputs found
Demonic Lattices and Semilattices in Relational Semigroups with Ordinary Composition
Relation algebra and its reducts provide us with a strong tool for reasoning about nondeterministic programs and their partial correctness. Demonic calculus, introduced to model the behaviour of a machine where the demon is in control of nondeterminism, has also provided us with an extension of that reasoning to total correctness.We formalise the framework for relational reasoning about total correctness in nondeterministic programs using semigroups with ordinary composition and demonic lattice operations. We show that the class of representable demonic join semigroups is not finitely axiomatisable and that the representation class of demonic meet semigroups does not have the finite representation property for its finite members.For lattice semigroups (with composition, demonic join and demonic meet) we show that the representation problem for finite algebras is undecidable, moreover the finite representation problem is also undecidable. It follows that the representation class is not finitely axiomatisable, furthermore the finite representation property fails
Refinement Calculus of Reactive Systems
Refinement calculus is a powerful and expressive tool for reasoning about
sequential programs in a compositional manner. In this paper we present an
extension of refinement calculus for reactive systems. Refinement calculus is
based on monotonic predicate transformers, which transform sets of post-states
into sets of pre-states. To model reactive systems, we introduce monotonic
property transformers, which transform sets of output traces into sets of input
traces. We show how to model in this semantics refinement, sequential
composition, demonic choice, and other semantic operations on reactive systems.
We use primarily higher order logic to express our results, but we also show
how property transformers can be defined using other formalisms more amenable
to automation, such as linear temporal logic (suitable for specifications) and
symbolic transition systems (suitable for implementations). Finally, we show
how this framework generalizes previous work on relational interfaces so as to
be able to express systems with infinite behaviors and liveness properties
Nondeterministic Relational Semantics of a while Program
A relational semantics is a mapping of programs to relations. We consider that the input-output semantics of a program is given by a relation on its set of states; in a nondeterministic context, this relation is calculated by considering the worst behavior of the program (demonic relational semantics). In this paper, we concentrate on while loops. Calculating the relational abstraction (semantics) of a loop is difficult, but showing the correctness of any candidate abstraction is much easier. For functional programs, Mills has described a checking method known as the while statement verification rule. A programming theorem for iterative constructs is proposed, proved, demonstrated and applied for an example. This theorem can be considered as a generalization of the while statement verification to nondeterministic loops. 
Domain and range for angelic and demonic compositions
We give finite axiomatizations for the varieties generated by representable
domain--range algebras when the semigroup operation is interpreted as angelic
or demonic composition, respectively
Demonic fixed points
We deal with a relational model for the demonic semantics of programs. The demonic semantics of a while loop is given as a fixed point of a function involving the demonic operators. This motivates us to investigate the fixed points of these functions. We give the expression of the greatest fixed point with respect to the demonic ordering (demonic inclusion) of the semantic function. We prove that this greatest fixed coincides with the least fixed point with respect to the usual ordering (angelic inclusion) of the same function. This is followed by an example of application
On a New Notion of Partial Refinement
Formal specification techniques allow expressing idealized specifications,
which abstract from restrictions that may arise in implementations. However,
partial implementations are universal in software development due to practical
limitations. Our goal is to contribute to a method of program refinement that
allows for partial implementations. For programs with a normal and an
exceptional exit, we propose a new notion of partial refinement which allows an
implementation to terminate exceptionally if the desired results cannot be
achieved, provided the initial state is maintained. Partial refinement leads to
a systematic method of developing programs with exception handling.Comment: In Proceedings Refine 2013, arXiv:1305.563
Domain Range Semigroups and Finite Representations
Relational semigroups with domain and range are a useful tool for modelling nondeterministic programs. We prove that the representation class of domain-range semigroups with demonic composition is not finitely axiomatisable. We extend the result for ordered domain algebras and show that any relation algebra reduct signature containing domain, range, converse, and composition, but no negation, meet, nor join has the finite representation property. That is any finite representable structure of such a signature is representable over a finite base. We survey the results in the area of the finite representation property
Refinement algebra for probabilistic programs
We identify a refinement algebra for reasoning about probabilistic program transformations in a total-correctness setting. The algebra is equipped with operators that determine whether a program is enabled or terminates respectively. As well as developing the basic theory of the algebra we demonstrate how it may be used to explain key differences and similarities between standard (i.e. non-probabilistic) and probabilistic programs and verify important transformation theorems for probabilistic action systems.29 page(s
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