A Framework for Consistency Algorithms

We present a framework that provides deterministic consistency algorithms for given memory models. Such an algorithm checks whether the executions of a shared-memory concurrent program are consistent under the axioms defined by a model. For memory models like SC and TSO, checking consistency is NP-complete. Our framework shows, that despite the hardness, fast deterministic consistency algorithms can be obtained by employing tools from fine-grained complexity. The framework is based on a universal consistency problem which can be instantiated by different memory models. We construct an algorithm for the problem running in time ?^*(2^k), where k is the number of write accesses in the execution that is checked for consistency. Each instance of the framework then admits an ?^*(2^k)-time consistency algorithm. By applying the framework, we obtain corresponding consistency algorithms for SC, TSO, PSO, and RMO. Moreover, we show that the obtained algorithms for SC, TSO, and PSO are optimal in the fine-grained sense: there is no consistency algorithm for these running in time 2^{o(k)} unless the exponential time hypothesis fails

Complexity of Liveness in Parameterized Systems

We investigate the fine-grained complexity of liveness verification for leader contributor systems. These consist of a designated leader thread and an arbitrary number of identical contributor threads communicating via a shared memory. The liveness verification problem asks whether there is an infinite computation of the system in which the leader reaches a final state infinitely often. Like its reachability counterpart, the problem is known to be NP-complete. Our results show that, even from a fine-grained point of view, the complexities differ only by a polynomial factor. Liveness verification decomposes into reachability and cycle detection. We present a fixed point iteration solving the latter in polynomial time. For reachability, we reconsider the two standard parameterizations. When parameterized by the number of states of the leader L and the size of the data domain D, we show an (L + D)^O(L + D)-time algorithm. It improves on a previous algorithm, thereby settling an open problem. When parameterized by the number of states of the contributor C, we reuse an O^*(2^C)-time algorithm. We show how to connect both algorithms with the cycle detection to obtain algorithms for liveness verification. The running times of the composed algorithms match those of reachability, proving that the fine-grained lower bounds for liveness verification are met

Model checking Branching-Time Properties of Multi-Pushdown Systems is Hard

We address the model checking problem for shared memory concurrent programs modeled as multi-pushdown systems. We consider here boolean programs with a finite number of threads and recursive procedures. It is well-known that the model checking problem is undecidable for this class of programs. In this paper, we investigate the decidability and the complexity of this problem under the assumption of bounded context-switching defined by Qadeer and Rehof, and of phase-boundedness proposed by La Torre et al. On the model checking of such systems against temporal logics and in particular branching time logics such as the modal $\mu$-calculus or CTL has received little attention. It is known that parity games, which are closely related to the modal $\mu$-calculus, are decidable for the class of bounded-phase systems (and hence for bounded-context switching as well), but with non-elementary complexity (Seth). A natural question is whether this high complexity is inevitable and what are the ways to get around it. This paper addresses these questions and unfortunately, and somewhat surprisingly, it shows that branching model checking for MPDSs is inherently an hard problem with no easy solution. We show that parity games on MPDS under phase-bounding restriction is non-elementary. Our main result shows that model checking a $k$ context bounded MPDS against a simple fragment of CTL, consisting of formulas that whose temporal operators come from the set {\EF, \EX}, has a non-elementary lower bound

Weighted One-Deterministic-Counter Automata

We introduce weighted one-deterministic-counter automata (ODCA). These are weighted one-counter automata (OCA) with the property of counter-determinacy, meaning that all paths labelled by a given word starting from the initial configuration have the same counter-effect. Weighted ODCAs are a strict extension of weighted visibly OCAs, which are weighted OCAs where the input alphabet determines the actions on the counter. We present a novel problem called the co-VS (complement to a vector space) reachability problem for weighted ODCAs over fields, which seeks to determine if there exists a run from a given configuration of a weighted ODCA to another configuration whose weight vector lies outside a given vector space. We establish two significant properties of witnesses for co-VS reachability: they satisfy a pseudo-pumping lemma, and the lexicographically minimal witness has a special form. It follows that the co-VS reachability problem is in P. These reachability problems help us to show that the equivalence problem of weighted ODCAs over fields is in P by adapting the equivalence proof of deterministic real-time OCAs by B\"ohm et al. This is a step towards resolving the open question of the equivalence problem of weighted OCAs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the regularity problem, the problem of checking whether an input weighted ODCA over a field is equivalent to some weighted automaton, is in P. Finally, we show that the covering and coverable equivalence problems for uninitialised weighted ODCAs are decidable in polynomial time. We also consider boolean ODCAs and show that the equivalence problem for (non-deterministic) boolean ODCAs is in PSPACE, whereas it is undecidable for (non-deterministic) boolean OCAs.Comment: 36 pages, 11 figure

On Bounded Reachability Analysis of Shared Memory Systems

This paper addresses the reachability problem for pushdown systems communicating via shared memory. It is already known that this problem is undecidable. It turns out that undecidability holds even if the shared memory consists of a single boolean variable. We propose a restriction on the behaviours of such systems, called stage bound, towards decidability. A k stage bounded run can be split into a k stages, such that in each stage there is at most one process writing to the shared memory while any number of processes may read from it. We consider several versions of stage-bounded systems and establish decidability and complexity results

Verification of Asynchronous Programs with Nested Locks

In this paper, we consider asynchronous programs consisting of multiple recursive threads running in parallel. Each of the threads is equipped with a multi-set. The threads can create tasks and post them onto the multi-sets or read a task from their own. In addition, they can synchronise through a finite set of locks. In this paper, we show that the reachability problem for such class of asynchronous programs is undecidable even under the nested locking policy. We then show that the reachability problem becomes decidable (Exp-space-complete) when the locks are not allowed to be held across tasks. Finally, we show that the problem is NP-complete when in addition to previous restrictions, threads always read tasks from the same state

On the Upward/Downward Closures of Petri Nets

We study the size and the complexity of computing finite state automata (FSA) representing and approximating the downward and the upward closure of Petri net languages with coverability as the acceptance condition. We show how to construct an FSA recognizing the upward closure of a Petri net language in doubly-exponential time, and therefore the size is at most doubly exponential. For downward closures, we prove that the size of the minimal automata can be non-primitive recursive. In the case of BPP nets, a well-known subclass of Petri nets, we show that an FSA accepting the downward/upward closure can be constructed in exponential time. Furthermore, we consider the problem of checking whether a simple regular language is included in the downward/upward closure of a Petri net/BPP net language. We show that this problem is EXPSPACE-complete (resp. NP-complete) in the case of Petri nets (resp. BPP nets). Finally, we show that it is decidable whether a Petri net language is upward/downward closed