1,689 research outputs found
Process algebra for performance evaluation
This paper surveys the theoretical developments in the field of stochastic process algebras, process algebras where action occurrences may be subject to a delay that is determined by a random variable. A huge class of resource-sharing systems – like large-scale computers, client–server architectures, networks – can accurately be described using such stochastic specification formalisms. The main emphasis of this paper is the treatment of operational semantics, notions of equivalence, and (sound and complete) axiomatisations of these equivalences for different types of Markovian process algebras, where delays are governed by exponential distributions. Starting from a simple actionless algebra for describing time-homogeneous continuous-time Markov chains, we consider the integration of actions and random delays both as a single entity (like in known Markovian process algebras like TIPP, PEPA and EMPA) and as separate entities (like in the timed process algebras timed CSP and TCCS). In total we consider four related calculi and investigate their relationship to existing Markovian process algebras. We also briefly indicate how one can profit from the separation of time and actions when incorporating more general, non-Markovian distributions
Uniform Labeled Transition Systems for Nondeterministic, Probabilistic, and Stochastic Process Calculi
Labeled transition systems are typically used to represent the behavior of
nondeterministic processes, with labeled transitions defining a one-step state
to-state reachability relation. This model has been recently made more general
by modifying the transition relation in such a way that it associates with any
source state and transition label a reachability distribution, i.e., a function
mapping each possible target state to a value of some domain that expresses the
degree of one-step reachability of that target state. In this extended
abstract, we show how the resulting model, called ULTraS from Uniform Labeled
Transition System, can be naturally used to give semantics to a fully
nondeterministic, a fully probabilistic, and a fully stochastic variant of a
CSP-like process language.Comment: In Proceedings PACO 2011, arXiv:1108.145
Probabilistic Bisimulation: Naturally on Distributions
In contrast to the usual understanding of probabilistic systems as stochastic
processes, recently these systems have also been regarded as transformers of
probabilities. In this paper, we give a natural definition of strong
bisimulation for probabilistic systems corresponding to this view that treats
probability distributions as first-class citizens. Our definition applies in
the same way to discrete systems as well as to systems with uncountable state
and action spaces. Several examples demonstrate that our definition refines the
understanding of behavioural equivalences of probabilistic systems. In
particular, it solves a long-standing open problem concerning the
representation of memoryless continuous time by memory-full continuous time.
Finally, we give algorithms for computing this bisimulation not only for finite
but also for classes of uncountably infinite systems
A uniform framework for modelling nondeterministic, probabilistic, stochastic, or mixed processes and their behavioral equivalences
Labeled transition systems are typically used as behavioral models of concurrent processes, and the labeled transitions define the a one-step state-to-state reachability relation. This model can be made generalized by modifying the transition relation to associate a state reachability distribution, rather than a single target state, with any pair of source state and transition label. The state reachability distribution becomes a function mapping each possible target state to a value that expresses the degree of one-step reachability of that state. Values are taken from a preordered set equipped with a minimum that denotes unreachability. By selecting suitable preordered sets, the resulting model, called ULTraS from Uniform Labeled Transition System, can be specialized to capture well-known models of fully nondeterministic processes (LTS), fully
probabilistic processes (ADTMC), fully stochastic processes (ACTMC), and of nondeterministic and probabilistic (MDP) or nondeterministic and stochastic (CTMDP) processes. This uniform treatment of different behavioral models extends to behavioral equivalences. These can be defined on ULTraS by relying on appropriate measure functions that expresses the degree of reachability of a set of states when performing
single-step or multi-step computations. It is shown that the specializations of bisimulation, trace, and testing
equivalences for the different classes of ULTraS coincide with the behavioral equivalences defined in the literature over traditional models
Modelling MAC-Layer Communications in Wireless Systems
We present a timed process calculus for modelling wireless networks in which
individual stations broadcast and receive messages; moreover the broadcasts are
subject to collisions. Based on a reduction semantics for the calculus we
define a contextual equivalence to compare the external behaviour of such
wireless networks. Further, we construct an extensional LTS (labelled
transition system) which models the activities of stations that can be directly
observed by the external environment. Standard bisimulations in this LTS
provide a sound proof method for proving systems contextually equivalence. We
illustrate the usefulness of the proof methodology by a series of examples.
Finally we show that this proof method is also complete, for a large class of
systems
Generic Trace Semantics via Coinduction
Trace semantics has been defined for various kinds of state-based systems,
notably with different forms of branching such as non-determinism vs.
probability. In this paper we claim to identify one underlying mathematical
structure behind these "trace semantics," namely coinduction in a Kleisli
category. This claim is based on our technical result that, under a suitably
order-enriched setting, a final coalgebra in a Kleisli category is given by an
initial algebra in the category Sets. Formerly the theory of coalgebras has
been employed mostly in Sets where coinduction yields a finer process semantics
of bisimilarity. Therefore this paper extends the application field of
coalgebras, providing a new instance of the principle "process semantics via
coinduction."Comment: To appear in Logical Methods in Computer Science. 36 page
Bisimulation of Labelled State-to-Function Transition Systems Coalgebraically
Labeled state-to-function transition systems, FuTS for short, are
characterized by transitions which relate states to functions of states over
general semirings, equipped with a rich set of higher-order operators. As such,
FuTS constitute a convenient modeling instrument to deal with process languages
and their quantitative extensions in particular. In this paper, the notion of
bisimulation induced by a FuTS is addressed from a coalgebraic point of view. A
correspondence result is established stating that FuTS-bisimilarity coincides
with behavioural equivalence of the associated functor. As generic examples,
the equivalences underlying substantial fragments of major examples of
quantitative process algebras are related to the bisimilarity of specific FuTS.
The examples range from a stochastic process language, PEPA, to a language for
Interactive Markov Chains, IML, a (discrete) timed process language, TPC, and a
language for Markov Automata, MAL. The equivalences underlying these languages
are related to the bisimilarity of their specific FuTS. By the correspondence
result coalgebraic justification of the equivalences of these calculi is
obtained. The specific selection of languages, besides covering a large variety
of process interaction models and modelling choices involving quantities,
allows us to show different classes of FuTS, namely so-called simple FuTS,
combined FuTS, nested FuTS, and general FuTS
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