A Kleene Theorem for Modeling Concurrent Systems with Higher-Dimensional Automata

Concepts de base

The languages recognized by higher-dimensional automata are precisely the rational subsumption-closed sets of finite interval pomsets.

Résumé

The paper introduces higher-dimensional automata (HDAs) as a general geometric model for non-interleaving concurrency. HDAs consist of cells representing concurrent events, with face maps indicating when events start or terminate.

The key insights are:

1. Executions of HDAs are characterized by interval pomsets, which capture the precedence and event order of concurrent events.
2. The languages recognized by HDAs are subsumption-closed sets of interval pomsets.
3. The rational operations on these languages include union, gluing (serial) composition, parallel composition, and (serial) Kleene plus.
4. The paper proves a Kleene theorem, showing that the rational languages are precisely the regular ones (recognized by finite HDAs).

The proof involves several technical developments, including:

• Modeling HDAs as presheaves on a "labelled precube" category
• Introducing HDAs with interfaces to track active events
• Using tools from algebraic topology, such as cylinders and (co)fibrations, to decompose HDA maps

These techniques and the Kleene theorem provide a foundational result for reasoning about concurrent systems modeled by HDAs.

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Idées clés tirées de

Kleene Theorem for Higher-Dimensional Automata

by Uli ... à arxiv.org 04-09-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2202.03791.pdf

Questions plus approfondies

What are some potential applications of higher-dimensional automata beyond modeling concurrent systems

Higher-dimensional automata have potential applications beyond modeling concurrent systems. One application could be in the field of biological systems, where they could be used to model complex interactions within biological networks. For example, they could help in understanding the dynamics of gene regulatory networks or signaling pathways. Another application could be in the field of robotics, where higher-dimensional automata could be used to model and control the behavior of robots in dynamic environments. Additionally, they could be applied in the field of artificial intelligence for modeling complex decision-making processes or in the design of autonomous systems.

How could the Kleene theorem for HDAs be extended to include the full Kleene star operation on languages

To extend the Kleene theorem for HDAs to include the full Kleene star operation on languages, one would need to consider infinite-dimensional automata. The full Kleene star operation allows for the repetition of a language zero or more times, leading to an infinite set of strings. This would require extending the framework of HDAs to handle infinite dimensions, which could involve new mathematical concepts and techniques to ensure the soundness and completeness of the theorem. Additionally, the proof of the extended theorem would need to address the challenges of dealing with infinite sets and the complexities that arise from infinite repetitions in language recognition.

What other models of concurrency could benefit from a similar Kleene-style theorem, and what new technical challenges might arise in those settings

Other models of concurrency that could benefit from a Kleene-style theorem include Petri nets, process algebras, and actor models. Each of these models has its own unique characteristics and challenges, such as non-determinism in Petri nets, compositionality in process algebras, and message passing in actor models. Adapting the Kleene theorem to these models would require addressing these specific challenges and ensuring that the theorem is applicable and meaningful in the context of each model. New technical challenges could arise in terms of defining rational operations, preserving properties of the models, and proving the equivalence between regular languages and rational languages in these different concurrency models.