Krzysztof Ziemiański

Myhill-Nerode theorem for higher-dimensional automata

Abstract

We establish a Myhill-Nerode type theorem for higher-dimensional automata (HDAs), stating that a language is regular if and only if it has finite prefix quotient. HDAs extend standard automata with additional structure, making it possible to distinguish between interleavings and concurrency. We also introduce deterministic HDAs and show that not all HDAs are determinizable, that is, there exist regular languages that cannot be recognised by a deterministic HDA. Using our theorem, we develop an internal characterisation of deterministic languages. Lastly, we develop analogues of the Myhill-Nerode construction and of determinacy for HDAs with interfaces.

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Closure and decision properties for higher-dimensional automata

Abstract

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A Myhill-Nerode theorem for higher-dimensional automata

Abstract

We establish a Myhill-Nerode type theorem for higher-dimensional automata (HDAs), stating that a language is regular precisely if it has finite prefix quotient. HDAs extend standard automata with additional structure, making it possible to distinguish between interleavings and concurrency. We also introduce deterministic HDAs and show that not all HDAs are determinizable, that is, there exist regular languages that cannot be recognised by a deterministic HDA. Using our theorem, we develop an internal characterisation of deterministic languages.

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Catoids and modal convolution algebras

Abstract

We show how modal quantales arise as convolution algebras $Q^X$ of functions from catoids $X$, that is, multisemigroups with a source map $\ell$ and a target map $r$, into modal quantales $Q$, which can be seen as weight or value algebras. In the tradition of boolean algebras with operators we study modal correspondences between algebraic laws in $X$, $Q$ and $Q^X$. The class of catoids we introduce generalises Schweizer and Sklar’s function systems and object-free categories to a setting isomorphic to algebras of ternary relations, as they are used for boolean algebras with operators and substructural logics. Our results provide a generic construction of weighted modal quantales from such multisemigroups. It is illustrated by many examples. We also discuss how these results generalise to a setting that supports reasoning with stochastic matrices or probabilistic predicate transformers.

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A Kleene theorem for higher-dimensional automata

Abstract

We prove a Kleene theorem for higher-dimensional automata (HDAs). It states that the languages they recognise are precisely the rational subsumption-closed sets of interval pomsets. The rational operations include a gluing composition, for which we equip pomsets with interfaces. For our proof, we introduce HDAs with interfaces as presheaves over labelled precube categories and use tools inspired by algebraic topology, such as cylinders and (co)fibrations. HDAs are a general model of non-interleaving concurrency, which subsumes many other models in this field. Interval orders are used as models for concurrent or distributed systems where events extend in time. Our tools and techniques may therefore yield templates for Kleene theorems in various models and applications.

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Posets with interfaces as a model for concurrency

Abstract

We introduce posets with interfaces (iposets) and generalise their standard serial composition to a new gluing composition. In the partial order semantics of concurrency, interfaces and gluing allow modelling events that extend in time and across components. Alternatively, taking a decompositional view, interfaces allow cutting through events, while serial composition may only cut through edges of a poset. We show that iposets under gluing composition form a category, which generalises the monoid of posets under serial composition up to isomorphism. They form a 2-category when a subsumption order and a lax tensor in the form of a non-commutative parallel composition are added, which generalises the interchange monoids used for modelling series-parallel posets. We also study the gluing-parallel hierarchy of iposets, which generalises the standard series-parallel one. The class of gluing-parallel iposets contains that of series-parallel posets and the class of interval orders, which are well studied in concurrency theory, too. We also show that it is strictly contained in the class of all iposets by identifying several forbidden substructures.

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