Prime implicate generation in equational logic

The work presented in this memoir deals with the generation of prime implicates in ground equational logic, i.e., of the most general consequences of formulae containing equations and disequations between ground terms.It is divided in three parts. First, two calculi that generate implicates are defined. Their deductive-completeness is proved, meaning they can both generate all the implicates up to redundancy of equational formulae.Second, a tree data structure to store the generated implicates is proposed along with algorithms to detect redundancies and prune the branches of the tree accordingly. This data structure is adapted to the different kinds of clauses (with and without function symbols, with and without constraints) and to the various formal definitions of redundancy used in the calculi since each calculus uses different -- although similar -- redundancy criteria. Termination and correction proofs are provided with each algorithm. Finally, an experimental evaluation of the different prime implicate generation methods based on research prototypes written in Ocaml is conducted including a comparison with state-of-the-art prime implicate generation tools. This experimental study is used to identify the most efficient variants of the proposed algorithms. These show promising results overstepping the state of the art.Ce mémoire présente le résultat de mon travail de thèse sur la génération d'impliqués premiers en logique équationnelle fermée, i.e., la génération des conséquences les plus générales de formules logiques contenants des équations et des disequations entre termes sans variables. Ce mémoire est divisé en trois parties. Tout d'abord, deux calculs de génération d'impliqués sont définis. Leur complétude pour la déduction est prouvée, ce qui signifie qu'ils sont tous deux capables de générer l'ensemble des impliqués modulo redondance d'une formule équationnelle fermée. Dans une deuxième partie, une structure de données arborescente est proposée pour stocker les impliqués générés, accompagnée d'algorithmes pour déceler les redondances et couper les branches de l'arbre lorsque c'est nécessaire. Cette structure de données est adaptée aux différents types de clauses (avec et sans symboles de fonctions, avec et sans contraintes) ainsi qu'aux différentes notions de redondance utilisées dans les calculs. En effet, chaque calcul utilise un critère de redondance légèrement différent des autres. Les preuves de correction et de terminaison des algorithmes sont fournies pour chaque algorithme. Enfin, une évaluation expérimentale des différentes méthodes de génération d'impliqués premiers est réalisée. Pour cela, un prototype de ces méthodes, écrit en Ocaml est comparé à des outils de génération d'impliqués premiers récents.Les résultats de ces expériences sont utilisés pour identifier les variantes les plus efficaces des algorithmes proposés. Les résultats sont prometteurs et dans la plupart des cas, meilleurs que ceux de l'état de l'art

Prime implicate generation in equational logic

The work presented in this memoir deals with the generation of prime implicates in ground equational logic, i.e., of the most general consequences of formulae containing equations and disequations between ground terms.It is divided in three parts. First, two calculi that generate implicates are defined. Their deductive-completeness is proved, meaning they can both generate all the implicates up to redundancy of equational formulae.Second, a tree data structure to store the generated implicates is proposed along with algorithms to detect redundancies and prune the branches of the tree accordingly. This data structure is adapted to the different kinds of clauses (with and without function symbols, with and without constraints) and to the various formal definitions of redundancy used in the calculi since each calculus uses different -- although similar -- redundancy criteria. Termination and correction proofs are provided with each algorithm. Finally, an experimental evaluation of the different prime implicate generation methods based on research prototypes written in Ocaml is conducted including a comparison with state-of-the-art prime implicate generation tools. This experimental study is used to identify the most efficient variants of the proposed algorithms. These show promising results overstepping the state of the art.Ce mémoire présente le résultat de mon travail de thèse sur la génération d'impliqués premiers en logique équationnelle fermée, i.e., la génération des conséquences les plus générales de formules logiques contenants des équations et des disequations entre termes sans variables. Ce mémoire est divisé en trois parties. Tout d'abord, deux calculs de génération d'impliqués sont définis. Leur complétude pour la déduction est prouvée, ce qui signifie qu'ils sont tous deux capables de générer l'ensemble des impliqués modulo redondance d'une formule équationnelle fermée. Dans une deuxième partie, une structure de données arborescente est proposée pour stocker les impliqués générés, accompagnée d'algorithmes pour déceler les redondances et couper les branches de l'arbre lorsque c'est nécessaire. Cette structure de données est adaptée aux différents types de clauses (avec et sans symboles de fonctions, avec et sans contraintes) ainsi qu'aux différentes notions de redondance utilisées dans les calculs. En effet, chaque calcul utilise un critère de redondance légèrement différent des autres. Les preuves de correction et de terminaison des algorithmes sont fournies pour chaque algorithme. Enfin, une évaluation expérimentale des différentes méthodes de génération d'impliqués premiers est réalisée. Pour cela, un prototype de ces méthodes, écrit en Ocaml est comparé à des outils de génération d'impliqués premiers récents.Les résultats de ces expériences sont utilisés pour identifier les variantes les plus efficaces des algorithmes proposés. Les résultats sont prometteurs et dans la plupart des cas, meilleurs que ceux de l'état de l'art

A Generic Framework for Implicate Generation Modulo Theories

International audienceThe clausal logical consequences of a formula are called its implicates. The generation of these implicates has several applications, such as the identification of missing hypotheses in a logical specification. We present a procedure that generates the implicates of a quantifier-free formula modulo a theory. No assumption is made on the considered theory, other than the existence of a decision procedure. The algorithm has been implemented (using the solvers MiniSAT, CVC4 and Z3) and experimental results show evidence of the practical relevance of the proposed approach

Automated Reasoning

This volume, LNAI 13385, constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 11th International Joint Conference on Automated Reasoning, IJCAR 2022, held in Haifa, Israel, in August 2022. The 32 full research papers and 9 short papers presented together with two invited talks were carefully reviewed and selected from 85 submissions. The papers focus on the following topics: Satisfiability, SMT Solving,Arithmetic; Calculi and Orderings; Knowledge Representation and Jutsification; Choices, Invariance, Substitutions and Formalization; Modal Logics; Proofs System and Proofs Search; Evolution, Termination and Decision Prolems. This is an open access book

Action Logic Programs: How to Specify Strategic Behavior in Dynamic Domains Using Logical Rules

We discuss a new concept of agent programs that combines logic programming with reasoning about actions. These agent logic programs are characterized by a clear separation between the specification of the agent’s strategic behavior and the underlying theory about the agent’s actions and their effects. This makes it a generic, declarative agent programming language, which can be combined with an action representation formalism of one’s choice. We present a declarative semantics for agent logic programs along with (two versions of) a sound and complete operational semantics, which combines the standard inference mechanisms for (constraint) logic programs with reasoning about actions

Designing Objects and Texts: an exploratory examination of narratives, texts and reflecting on difference inside product design projects

This dissertation involves an exploratory examination of student product design projects, through the lens of narrative modes of discourse, where objects are understood as particular forms of text. This position is predicated on understanding the paradigm of design as a social practice. The product design project results in a variety of concretised outputs, understood as texts, including drawings, sketches, models, prototypes, as well as accounts and reports of experience, from a variety of perspectives. In sociolinguistic terms, texts arise because of difference, which is made apparent through reflections on identification, analogy, opposition and ascertaining resemblance across experiences of events and the components of which they are comprised. A mixed methods approach combines empirical case studies of postgraduate product design projects adopting a macro-structural perspective, combined with a micro-situational accounts of intermediary tutorials between students and their tutor, reflecting upon project developments, through discussions involving sequences of events, comprised of particular actors engaged in action in a place and time. A grounded approach reveals multiple narratives in the product design project, where the prototypes in progress are examined and interrogated as participants themselves involved in shaping the narrative frame. Analysis provides the design difference framework, involving 5 production rules associated with a product project that addresses the narrative transition. These involve decomposing, characterising, rewriting, cohering and recomposing. The provisional framework is discussed, suggesting that the application of production rules results in difference, evident in the negotiation between extant determined objects in the world, and abstract, determinable concepts in the mind. A final discussion regarding the theoretical framework presents a reflective critique of the thesis, and discusses contributions made and future work to be undertaken

A Rewriting Strategy to Generate Prime Implicates in Equational Logic

International audienceGenerating the prime implicates of a formula consists in finding its most general consequences. This has many fields of application in automated reasoning, like planning and diagnosis, and although the subject has been extensively studied (and still is) in propositional logic, very few have approached the problem in more expressive logics because of its intrinsic complexity. This paper presents one such approach for flat ground equational logic. Aiming at efficiency, it intertwines an existing method to generate all prime implicates of a formula with a rewriting technique that uses atomic equations to simplify the problem by removing constants during the search. The soundness, completeness and termination of the algorithm are proven. The algorithm has been implemented and an experimental analysis is provided

A Rewriting Strategy to Generate Prime Implicates in Equational Logic

International audienc