We introduce the notion of difference equation defined on a structured set.
The symmetry group of the structure determines the set of difference operators.
All main notions in the theory of difference equations are introduced as
invariants of the symmetry group. Linear equations are modules over the skew
group algebra, solutions are morphisms relating a given equation to other
equations,symmetries of an equation are module endomorphisms and conserved
structures are invariants in the tensor algebra of the given equation. We show
that the equations and their solutions can be described through representations
of the isotropy group of the symmetry group of the underluing set. We relate
our notion of difference equations and solutions to systems of classical
difference equations and their solutions and show that our notions include
these as a special case.Comment: 34 page
