101,271 research outputs found
Ranking Functions for Vector Addition Systems
Vector addition systems are an important model in theoretical computer
science and have been used for the analysis of systems in a variety of areas.
Termination is a crucial property of vector addition systems and has received
considerable interest in the literature. In this paper we give a complete
method for the construction of ranking functions for vector addition systems
with states. The interest in ranking functions is motivated by the fact that
ranking functions provide valuable additional information in case of
termination: They provide an explanation for the progress of the vector
addition system, which can be reported to the user of a verification tool, and
can be used as certificates for termination. Moreover, we show how ranking
functions can be used for the computational complexity analysis of vector
addition systems (here complexity refers to the number of steps the vector
addition system under analysis can take in terms of the given initial vector)
A Simple and Scalable Static Analysis for Bound Analysis and Amortized Complexity Analysis
We present the first scalable bound analysis that achieves amortized
complexity analysis. In contrast to earlier work, our bound analysis is not
based on general purpose reasoners such as abstract interpreters, software
model checkers or computer algebra tools. Rather, we derive bounds directly
from abstract program models, which we obtain from programs by comparatively
simple invariant generation and symbolic execution techniques. As a result, we
obtain an analysis that is more predictable and more scalable than earlier
approaches. Our experiments demonstrate that our analysis is fast and at the
same time able to compute bounds for challenging loops in a large real-world
benchmark. Technically, our approach is based on lossy vector addition systems
(VASS). Our bound analysis first computes a lexicographic ranking function that
proves the termination of a VASS, and then derives a bound from this ranking
function. Our methodology achieves amortized analysis based on a new insight
how lexicographic ranking functions can be used for bound analysis
Efficient Algorithms for Asymptotic Bounds on Termination Time in VASS
Vector Addition Systems with States (VASS) provide a well-known and
fundamental model for the analysis of concurrent processes, parameterized
systems, and are also used as abstract models of programs in resource bound
analysis. In this paper we study the problem of obtaining asymptotic bounds on
the termination time of a given VASS. In particular, we focus on the
practically important case of obtaining polynomial bounds on termination time.
Our main contributions are as follows: First, we present a polynomial-time
algorithm for deciding whether a given VASS has a linear asymptotic complexity.
We also show that if the complexity of a VASS is not linear, it is at least
quadratic. Second, we classify VASS according to quantitative properties of
their cycles. We show that certain singularities in these properties are the
key reason for non-polynomial asymptotic complexity of VASS. In absence of
singularities, we show that the asymptotic complexity is always polynomial and
of the form , for some integer , where is the
dimension of the VASS. We present a polynomial-time algorithm computing the
optimal . For general VASS, the same algorithm, which is based on a complete
technique for the construction of ranking functions in VASS, produces a valid
lower bound, i.e., a such that the termination complexity is .
Our results are based on new insights into the geometry of VASS dynamics, which
hold the potential for further applicability to VASS analysis.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1708.0925
The Hardness of Finding Linear Ranking Functions for Lasso Programs
Finding whether a linear-constraint loop has a linear ranking function is an
important key to understanding the loop behavior, proving its termination and
establishing iteration bounds. If no preconditions are provided, the decision
problem is known to be in coNP when variables range over the integers and in
PTIME for the rational numbers, or real numbers. Here we show that deciding
whether a linear-constraint loop with a precondition, specifically with
partially-specified input, has a linear ranking function is EXPSPACE-hard over
the integers, and PSPACE-hard over the rationals. The precise complexity of
these decision problems is yet unknown. The EXPSPACE lower bound is derived
from the reachability problem for Petri nets (equivalently, Vector Addition
Systems), and possibly indicates an even stronger lower bound (subject to open
problems in VAS theory). The lower bound for the rationals follows from a novel
simulation of Boolean programs. Lower bounds are also given for the problem of
deciding if a linear ranking-function supported by a particular form of
inductive invariant exists. For loops over integers, the problem is PSPACE-hard
for convex polyhedral invariants and EXPSPACE-hard for downward-closed sets of
natural numbers as invariants.Comment: In Proceedings GandALF 2014, arXiv:1408.5560. I thank the organizers
of the Dagstuhl Seminar 14141, "Reachability Problems for Infinite-State
Systems", for the opportunity to present an early draft of this wor
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