The Intersection Type Unification Problem

The intersection type unification problem is an important component in proof search related to several natural decision problems in intersection type systems. It is unknown and remains open whether the unification problem is decidable. We give the first nontrivial lower bound for the problem by showing (our main result) that it is exponential time hard. Furthermore, we show that this holds even under rank 1 solutions (substitutions whose codomains are restricted to contain rank 1 types). In addition, we provide a fixed-parameter intractability result for intersection type matching (one-sided unification), which is known to be NP-complete. We place the intersection type unification problem in the context of unification theory. The equational theory of intersection types can be presented as an algebraic theory with an ACI (associative, commutative, and idempotent) operator (intersection type) combined with distributivity properties with respect to a second operator (function type). Although the problem is algebraically natural and interesting, it appears to occupy a hitherto unstudied place in the theory of unification, and our investigation of the problem suggests that new methods are required to understand the problem. Thus, for the lower bound proof, we were not able to reduce from known results in ACI-unification theory and use game-theoretic methods for two-player tiling games

The Algebraic Intersection Type Unification Problem

The algebraic intersection type unification problem is an important component in proof search related to several natural decision problems in intersection type systems. It is unknown and remains open whether the algebraic intersection type unification problem is decidable. We give the first nontrivial lower bound for the problem by showing (our main result) that it is exponential time hard. Furthermore, we show that this holds even under rank 1 solutions (substitutions whose codomains are restricted to contain rank 1 types). In addition, we provide a fixed-parameter intractability result for intersection type matching (one-sided unification), which is known to be NP-complete. We place the algebraic intersection type unification problem in the context of unification theory. The equational theory of intersection types can be presented as an algebraic theory with an ACI (associative, commutative, and idempotent) operator (intersection type) combined with distributivity properties with respect to a second operator (function type). Although the problem is algebraically natural and interesting, it appears to occupy a hitherto unstudied place in the theory of unification, and our investigation of the problem suggests that new methods are required to understand the problem. Thus, for the lower bound proof, we were not able to reduce from known results in ACI-unification theory and use game-theoretic methods for two-player tiling games

Decidable Classes of Tree Automata Mixing Local and Global Constraints Modulo Flat Theories

We define a class of ranked tree automata TABG generalizing both the tree automata with local tests between brothers of Bogaert and Tison (1992) and with global equality and disequality constraints (TAGED) of Filiot et al. (2007). TABG can test for equality and disequality modulo a given flat equational theory between brother subterms and between subterms whose positions are defined by the states reached during a computation. In particular, TABG can check that all the subterms reaching a given state are distinct. This constraint is related to monadic key constraints for XML documents, meaning that every two distinct positions of a given type have different values. We prove decidability of the emptiness problem for TABG. This solves, in particular, the open question of the decidability of emptiness for TAGED. We further extend our result by allowing global arithmetic constraints for counting the number of occurrences of some state or the number of different equivalence classes of subterms (modulo a given flat equational theory) reaching some state during a computation. We also adapt the model to unranked ordered terms. As a consequence of our results for TABG, we prove the decidability of a fragment of the monadic second order logic on trees extended with predicates for equality and disequality between subtrees, and cardinality.Comment: 39 pages, to appear in LMCS journa

Tree automata with constraints and tree homomorphisms

Automata are a widely used formalism in computer science as a concise representation for sets. They are interesting from a theoretical and practical point of view. This work is focused on automata that are executed on tree-like structures, and thus, define sets of trees. Moreover, we tackle automata that are enhanced with the possibility to check (dis)equality constraints, i.e., where the automata are able to test whether specific subtrees of the input tree are equal or different. Two distinct mechanisms are considered for defining which subtrees have to be compared in the evaluation of the constraints. First, in local constraints, a transition of the automaton compares subtrees pending at positions relative to the position of the input tree where the transition takes place. Second, in global constraints, the subtrees tested are selected depending on the state to which they are evaluated by the automaton during a computation. In the setting of local constraints, we introduce tree automata with height constraints between brothers. These constraints are predicates on sibling subtrees that, instead of evaluating whether the subtrees are equal or different, compare their respective heights. Such constraints allow to express natural tree sets like complete or balanced (like AVL) trees. We prove decidability of emptiness and finiteness for these automata, and also for their combination with the tree automata with (dis)equality constraints between brothers of Bogaert and Tison (1992). We also define a new class of tree automata with constraints that allows arbitrary local disequality constraints and a particular kind of local equality constraints. We prove decidability of emptiness and finiteness for this class in exponential time. As a consequence, we obtain several EXPTIME-completeness results for problems on images of regular tree sets under tree homomorphisms, like set inclusion, finiteness of set difference, and regularity (also called HOM problem). In the setting of global constraints, we study the class of tree automata with global reflexive disequality constraints. Such kind of constraints is incomparable with the original notion of global disequality constraints of Filiot et al. (2007): the latter restricts disequality tests to only compare subtrees evaluated to distinct states, whereas in our model it is possible to test that all subtrees evaluated to the same given state are pairwise different. Our tests correspond to monadic key constraints, and thus, can be used to characterize unique identifiers, a typical integrity constraint of XML schemas. We study the emptiness and finiteness problems for these automata, and obtain decision algorithms that take triple exponential time.Los autómatas son un formalismo ampliamente usado en ciencias de la computación como una representación concisa para conjuntos, siendo interesantes tanto a nivel teórico como práctico. Este trabajo se centra en autómatas que se ejecutan en estructuras arbóreas, y por tanto, definen conjuntos de árboles. En particular, tratamos autómatas que han sido extendidos con la posibilidad de comprobar restricciones de (des)igualdad, es decir, autómatas que son capaces de comprobar si ciertos subárboles del árbol de entrada son iguales o diferentes. Se consideran dos mecanismos distintos para definir qué subárboles deben ser comparados en la evaluación de las restricciones. Primero, en las restricciones locales, una transición del autómata compara subárboles que penden en posiciones relativas a la posición del árbol de entrada en que se aplica la transición. Segundo, en restricciones globales, los subárboles comparados se seleccionan dependiendo del estado al que son evaluados por el autómata durante el cómputo. En el marco de restricciones locales, introducimos los autómatas de árboles con restricciones de altura entre hermanos. Estas restricciones son predicados entre subárboles hermanos que, en lugar de evaluar si los subárboles son iguales o diferentes, comparan sus respectivas alturas. Este tipo de restricciones permiten expresar conjuntos naturales de árboles, tales como árboles completos o equilibrados (como AVL). Demostramos la decidibilidad de la vacuidad y finitud para este tipo de autómata, y también para su combinación con los autómata con restricciones de (des)igualdad entre hermanos de Bogaert y Tison (1992). También definimos una nueva clase de autómatas con restricciones que permite restricciones locales de desigualdad arbitrarias y un tipo particular de restricciones locales de igualdad. Demostramos la decidibilidad de la vacuidad y finitud para esta clase, con un algoritmo de tiempo exponencial. Como consecuencia, obtenemos varios resultados de EXPTIME-completitud para problemas en imágenes de conjuntos regulares de árboles a través de homomorfismos de árboles, tales como inclusión de conjuntos, finitud de diferencia de conjuntos, y regularidad (también conocido como el problema HOM). En el marco de restricciones globales, estudiamos la clase de autómatas de árboles con restricciones globales de desigualdad reflexiva. Este tipo de restricciones es incomparable con la noción original de restricciones globales de desigualdad de Filiot et al. (2007): éstas últimas restringen las comprobaciones de desigualdad a subárboles que se evalúen a estados distintos, mientras que en nuestro modelo es posible comprobar que todos los subárboles que se evalúen a un mismo estado dado son dos a dos distintos. Nuestras restricciones corresponden a restricciones de clave, y por tanto, pueden ser usadas para caracterizar identificadores únicos, una restricción de integridad típica de los XML Schemas. Estudiamos los problemas de vacuidad y finitud para estos autómatas, y obtenemos algoritmos de decisión con coste temporal triplemente exponencial.Postprint (published version

Set based failure diagnosis for concurrent constraint programming

Oz is a recent high-level programming language, based on an extension of the concurrent constraint model by higher-order procedures and state. Oz is a dynamically typed language like Prolog, Scheme, or Smalltalk. We investigate two approaches of making static type analysis available for Oz: Set-based failure diagnosis and strong typing. We define a new system of set constraints over feature trees that is appropriate for the analysis of record structures, and we investigate its satisfiability, emptiness, and entailment problem. We present a set-based diagnosis for constraint logic programming and concurrent constraint programming as first-order fragments of Oz, and we prove that it correctly detects inevitable run-time errors. We also propose an analysis for a larger sublanguage of Oz. Complementarily, we define an Oz-style language called Plain that allows an expressive strong type system. We present such a type system and prove its soundness.Oz ist eine anwendungsnahe Programmiersprache, deren Grundlage eine Erweiterung des Modells nebenläufiger Constraintprogrammierung um Prozeduren höherer Stufe und Zustand ist. Oz ist eine Sprache mit dynamischer Typüberprüfung wie Prolog, Scheme oder Smalltalk. Wir untersuchen zwei Ansätze, statische Typüberprüfung für Oz zu ermöglichen: Mengenbasierte Fehlerdiagnose und Starke Typisierung. Wir definieren ein neues System von Mengenconstraints über Featurebäumen, das für die Analyse von Recordstrukturen geeignet ist, und wir untersuchen das Erfüllbarkeits-, das Leerheits- und das Subsumtionsproblem für dieses Constraintsystem. Wir präsentieren eine mengenbasierte Diagnose für Constraint-Logikprogrammierung und für nebenläufige Constraintprogrammierung als Teilsprachen von Oz, und wir beweisen, daß diese unvermeidliche Laufzeitfehler erkennt. Wir schlagen auch eine mengenbasierte Analyse für eine grössere Teilsprache von Oz vor. Komplementär dazu definieren wir eine Oz-artige Sprache genannt Plain, die ein expressives starkes Typsystem erlaubt. Wir stellen ein solches Typsystem vor und beweisen seine Korrektheit

Set constraints with projections are in NEXPTIME

Systems of set constraints describe relations between sets of ground terms. They have been successfully used in program analysis and type inference. In this paper we prove that the problem of existence of a solution of a system of set constraints with projections is in NEXPTIME, and thus that it is NEXPTIME-complete. This extends the result of A. Aiken, D. Kozen, and E.L. Wimmers [3] and R. Gilleron, S. Tison, and M. Tommasi [10] on decidability of negated set constraints and solves a problem that was open for several years. 1 Introduction Set constraints have a form of inclusions between set expressions built over a set of set-valued variables, constants and function symbols. They have been used in program analysis and type inference algorithms for functional, imperative and logic programming languages [4], [5], [12], [13], [15], [16], [18]. Solving a system of set constraints is the main part of these algorithms, however until now the satisfiability problem for such constraints was..