Complexity of Weak Bisimilarity and Regularity for BPA and BPP

It is an open problem whether weak bisimilarity is decidable for Basic Process Algebra (BPA) and Basic Parallel Processes (BPP). A PSPACE lower bound for BPA and NP lower bound for BPP have been demonstrated by Stribrna. Mayr achieved recently a result, saying that weak bisimilarity for BPP is Π^p₂-hard. We improve this lower bound to PSPACE, moreover for the restricted class of normed BPP.Weak regularity (finiteness) of BPA and BPP is not known to be decidable either. In the case of BPP there is a Π^p₂-hardness result by Mayr, which we improve to PSPACE. No lower bound has previously been established for BPA. We demonstrate DP-hardness, which in particular implies both NP and co-NP-hardness.In each of the bisimulation/regularity problems we consider also the classes of normed processes.Note: full version of the paper appears as [18].     

Complexity of Weak Bisimilarity and Regularity for BPA and BPP

It is an open problem whether weak bisimilarity is decidable for Basic Process Algebra (BPA) and Basic Parallel Processes (BPP). A PSPACE lower bound for BPA and NP lower bound for BPP have been demonstrated by Stribrna. Mayr achieved recently a result, saying that weak bisimilarity for BPP is Π^p₂-hard. We improve this lower bound to PSPACE, moreover for the restricted class of normed BPP.Weak regularity (finiteness) of BPA and BPP is not known to be decidable either. In the case of BPP there is a Π^p₂-hardness result by Mayr, which we improve to PSPACE. No lower bound has previously been established for BPA. We demonstrate DP-hardness, which in particular implies both NP and co-NP-hardness.In each of the bisimulation/regularity problems we consider also the classes of normed processes.Note: full version of the paper appears as [18].     

Comparing expressibility of normed BPA and normed BPP processes

We present an exact characterization of those transition systems which can be equivalently (up to bisimilarity) defined by the syntax of normed BPA and normed BPP processes. We give such a characterization for the subclasses of normed BPA and normed BPP processes as well. Next we demonstrate the decidability of the problem whether for a given normed BPA process there is some unspecified normed BPP process such that and are bisimilar. The algorithm is polynomial. Furthermore, we show that if the answer to the previous question is positive, then (an example of) the process is effectively constructible. Analogous algorithms are provided for normed BPP processes. Simplified versions of the mentioned algorithms which work for normed BPA and normed BPP are given too. As a simple consequence we obtain the decidability of bisimilarity in the union of normed BPA and normed BPP processes. Received: 3 June 1997     

Weak bisimilarity between finite-state systems and BPA or normed BPP is decidable in polynomial time

We prove that weak bisimilarity is decidable in polynomial time between finite-state systems and several classes of infinite-state systems: context-free processes and normed basic parallel processes (normed BPP). To the best of our knowledge, these are the first polynomial algorithms for weak bisimilarity problems involving infinite-state systems.     

Partially-commutative context-free processes: Expressibility and tractability

Bisimulation equivalence is decidable in polynomial time for both sequential and commutative normed context-free processes, known as BPA and BPP, respectively. Despite apparent similarity between the two classes, different algorithmic techniques were used in each case. We provide one polynomial-time algorithm that works in a superclass of both normed BPA and BPP. It is derived in the setting of partially-commutative context-free processes, a new process class introduced in the paper. It subsumes both BPA and BPP and seems to be of independent interest. Expressibility issue of the new class, in comparison with the normed PA class, is also tackled in the paper.     

Branching bisimulation congruence for probabilistic systems

A notion of branching bisimilarity for the alternating model of probabilistic systems, compatible with parallel composition, is defined. For a congruence result, an internal transition immediately followed by a non-trivial probability distribution is not considered inert. A weaker definition of branching bisimilarity for the same model has been given earlier. Here we show that our branching bisimulation is the coarsest congruence for parallel composition that is included in the weaker version. To support the use of the present equivalence as a reduction technique, we also show that probabilistic CTL formulae are preserved by our equivalence, and we provide a polynomial-time algorithm deciding branching bisimilarity.     

Refining the Undecidability Border of Weak Bisimilarity

Weak bisimilarity is one of the most studied behavioural equivalences. This equivalence is undecidable for pushdown processes (PDA), process algebras (PA), and multiset automata (MSA, also known as parallel pushdown processes, PPDA). Its decidability is an open question for basic process algebras (BPA) and basic parallel processes (BPP). We move the undecidability border towards these classes by showing that the equivalence remains undecidable for weakly extended versions of BPA and BPP. In fact, we show that the weak bisimulation equivalence problem is undecidable even for normed subclasses of BPA and BPP extended with a finite constraint system.     

A hierarchy of probabilistic system types

We arrange various types of probabilistic transition systems studied in the literature in an expressiveness hierarchy. The expressiveness criterion is the existence of an embedding of systems of the one class into those of the other. An embedding here is a system transformation which preserves and reflects bisimilarity. To facilitate the task, we define the classes of systems and the corresponding notion of bisimilarity coalgebraically and use the new technical result that an embedding arises from a natural transformation with injective components between the two coalgebra functors under consideration. Moreover, we argue that coalgebraic bisimilarity, on which we base our results, coincides with the concrete notions proposed in the literature for the different system classes, exemplified by a detailed proof for the case of general Segala-type systems.     

Branching bisimulation for probabilistic systems: Characteristics and decidability

We address the concept of abstraction in the setting of probabilistic reactive systems, and study its formal underpinnings for the strictly alternating model of Hansson. In particular, we define the notion of branching bisimilarity and study its properties by studying two other equivalence relations, viz. coloured trace equivalence and branching bisimilarity using maximal probabilities. We show that both alternatives coincide with branching bisimilarity. The alternative characterisations have their own merits and focus on different aspects of branching bisimilarity. Coloured trace equivalence can be understood without knowledge of probability theory and is independent of the notion of a scheduler. Branching bisimilarity, rephrased in terms of maximal probabilities gives rise to an algorithm of polynomial complexity for deciding the equivalence. Together they give a better understanding of branching bisimilarity. Furthermore, we show that the notions of branching bisimilarity in the alternating model of Hansson and in the non-alternating model of Segala differ: branching bisimilarity in the latter setting turns out to discriminate between systems that are intuitively branching bisimilar.     

Behavioural equivalences of a probabilistic pi-calculus

Although different kinds of probabilistic π-calculus have been introduced and found their place in quantitative verification and evaluation,their behavioural equivalences still lack a deep investigation.We propose a simple probabilistic extension of the π-calculus,π p,which is inspired by Herescu and Palamidessi’s probabilistic asynchronous π-calculus.An early semantics of our π p is presented.We generalise several classic behavioural equivalences to probabilistic versions,obtaining the probabilistic(strong) barbed equivalence and probabilistic bisimulation for π p.Then we prove that the coincidence between the barbed equivalence and bisimilarity in the π-calculus is preserved in the probabilistic setting.     

Polytime model checking for timed probabilistic computation tree logic

We consider the model checking problem for Timed Probabilistic Computation Tree Logic (TPCTL) introduced by H.A. Hansson and D. Jonsson, and studied in a recent book by H.A. Hansson [Han94]. The semantics of TPCTL is defined in terms of probabilistic transition systems. It is shown in [Han94] that model checking for TPCTL has exponential time complexity, the latter being measured in terms of the size of formula, the size of transition system and the value of explicit time that appears in the formula. Besides that, [Han94] describes some polytime decidable classes, the proofs being rather voluminous. We show, by a short proof, that this model checking problem is polytime decidable in the general case. The proof is essentially based on results on the complexity of Markov decision processes. Received: 2 May 1996 / 5 January 1998     

Algorithmic probabilistic game semantics

We present a detailed account of a translation from probabilistic call-by-value programs with procedures to Rabin’s probabilistic automata. The translation is fully abstract in that programs exhibit the same computational behaviour if and only if the corresponding automata are language-equivalent. Since probabilistic language equivalence is decidable, we can apply the translation to analyse the behaviour of probabilistic programs and protocols. We illustrate our approach on a number of case studies.     

On the expressiveness and decidability of higher-order process calculi

In higher-order process calculi, the values exchanged in communications may contain processes. A core calculus of higher-order concurrency is studied; it has only the operators necessary to express higher-order communications: input prefix, process output, and parallel composition. By exhibiting a deterministic encoding of Minsky machines, the calculus is shown to be Turing complete. Therefore its termination problem is undecidable. Strong bisimilarity, however, is shown to be decidable. Furthermore, the main forms of strong bisimilarity for higher-order processes (higher-order bisimilarity, context bisimilarity, normal bisimilarity, barbed congruence) coincide. They also coincide with their asynchronous versions. A sound and complete axiomatization of bisimilarity is given. Finally, bisimilarity is shown to become undecidable if at least four static (i.e., top-level) restrictions are added to the calculus.     

Weak bisimilarity and regularity of context-free processes is EXPTIME-hard

We show that checking weak bisimulation equivalence of two context-free processes (also called BPA-processes) is EXPTIME-hard, even under the condition that the processes are normed. Furthermore, checking weak regularity (finiteness up to weak bisimilarity) for context-free processes is EXPTIME-hard as well. Adding a finite control of the minimal non-trivial size of 2 to the BPA process already makes weak bisimilarity undecidable.     

Simulation Preorder over Simple Process Algebras

We consider the problem of simulation preorder/equivalence between infinite-state processes and finite-state ones. First, we describe a general method how to utilize the decidability of bisimulation problems to solve (certain instances of) the corresponding simulation problems. For certain process classes, the method allows us to design effective reductions of simulation problems to their bisimulation counterparts and some new decidability results for simulation have already been obtained in this way. Then we establish the decidability border for the problem of simulation preorder/equivalence between infinite-state processes and finite-state ones w.r.t. the hierarchy of process rewrite systems. In particular, we show that simulation preorder (in both directions) and simulation equivalence are decidable in EXPTIME between pushdown processes and finite-state ones. On the other hand, simulation preorder is undecidable between PA and finite-state processes in both directions. These results also hold for those PA and finite-state processes which are deterministic and normed, and thus immediately extend to trace preorder. Regularity (finiteness) w.r.t. simulation and trace equivalence is also shown to be undecidable for PA. Finally, we prove that simulation preorder (in both directions) and simulation equivalence are intractable between all classes of infinite-state systems (in the hierarchy of process rewrite systems) and finite-state ones. This result is obtained by showing that the problem whether a BPA (or BPP) process simulates a finite-state one is PSPACE-hard and the other direction is co -hard; consequently, simulation equivalence between BPA (or BPP) and finite-state processes is also co -hard.     

Simulating perfect channels with probabilistic lossy channels

We consider the problem of deciding whether an infinite-state system (expressed as a Markov chain) satisfies a correctness property with probability 1. This problem is, of course, undecidable for general infinite-state systems. We focus our attention on the model of probabilistic lossy channel systems consisting of finite-state processes that communicate over unbounded lossy FIFO channels. Abdulla and Jonsson have shown that safety properties are decidable while progress properties are undecidable for non-probabilistic lossy channel systems. Under assumptions of “sufficiently high” probability of loss, Baier and Engelen have shown how to check whether a property holds of probabilistic lossy channel system with probability 1. In this paper, we consider a model of probabilistic lossy channel systems, where messages can be lost only during send transitions. In contrast to the model of Baier and Engelen, once a message is successfully sent to channel, it can only be removed through a transition which receives the message. We show that checking whether safety properties hold with probability 1 is undecidable for this model. Our proof depends upon simulating a perfect channel, with a high degree of confidence, using lossy channels.     

Equivalences for Silent Transitions in Probabilistic Systems: (Extended Abstract)

We address abstraction in the setting of probabilistic reactive systems, and study its formal underpinnings for the strictly alternating model. In particular, we define the notion of branching bisimilarity and study its properties by studying two other equivalence relations, viz. coloured trace equivalence and branching bisimilarity using maximal probabilities. We show that both alternatives coincide with branching bisimilarity. The alternative characterisations have their own merits and focus on different aspects of branching bisimilarity. Together they give a better understanding of branching bisimilarity. A crucial observation, and, in fact a major motivation for this work is that the notions of branching bisimilarity in the alternating and in the non-alternating model differ, and that the latter one discriminates between systems that are intuitively branching bisimilar.     

GSOS for probabilistic transition systems: (extended abstract)

We introduce probabilistic GSOS, an operator specification format for (reactive) probabilistic transition systems which arises as an adaptation of the known GSOS format for labelled (nondeterministic) transition systems. Like the standard one, The format is well behaved in the sense that on all models bisimilarity is a congruence and the up-to-context proof principle is valid. Moreover, every specification has a final model which can be shown to offer unique solutions for guarded recursive equations. The format covers operator specifications from the literature, so that the well-behavedness results given for those arise as instances of our general one.The novel format was obtained via the following procedure: Turi and Plotkin have modelled specifications in the (standard) GSOS format and their models as natural transformations of a certain shape and a class of bialgebras identified by them. Several well-behavedness results for the concrete format can elegantly be proved in the categorical setting. Since the abstract framework is parametric in the type of system behaviour under consideration, it can be instantiated with that of probabilistic transition systems yielding a specification format for them, again in terms of specific natural transformations. The main contribution of this paper is the derivation of probabilistic GSOS as a rule-style representation of those.     

A propositional probabilistic logic with discrete linear time for reasoning about evidence

The aim of the paper is to present a sound, strongly complete and decidable probabilistic temporal logic that can model reasoning about evidence. The formal system developed here is actually a solution of a problem proposed by Halpern and Pucella (J Artif Intell Res 26:1–34, 2006).     

Decidability of performance equivalence for basic parallel processes

We study an extension of the class of Basic Parallel Processes (BPP), in which actions are durational and urgent and parallel components have independent local clocks. The main result is decidability of strong bisimilarity, known also as performance equivalence, in this class. This extends the earlier decidability result for plain BPP by Christensen et al. Our decision procedure is based on decidability of the validity problem for Presburger arithmetic. We prove also polynomial complexity in positive-duration fragment, thus properly extending a previous result by Bérard et al. Both ill-timed and well-timed semantics are treated.