From algebraic semantics to denotational semantics for Verilog

This paper considers how the algebraic semantics for Verilog relates with its denotational semantics. Our approach is to derive the denotational semantics from the algebraic semantics. We first present the algebraic laws for Verilog. Every program can be expressed as a guarded choice that can model the execution of a program. In order to investigate the parallel expansion laws, a sequence is introduced, indicating which instantaneous action is due to which exact parallel component. A head normal form is defined for each program by using a locality sequence. We provide a strategy for deriving the denotational semantics based on head normal form. Using this strategy, the denotational semantics for every program can be calculated. Program equivalence can also be explored by using the derived denotational semantics. A short version of this paper appeared in Proc. ICECCS 2006: 11th IEEE International Conference on Engineering of Complex Computer Systems [48]. This work is partially supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2005CB321904), the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (No. 2007AA010302) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 90718004). Jonathan Bowen is a visiting professor at King’s College London and an emeritus professor at London South Bank University.     

Non-Standard Semantics for Program Slicing

In this paper we generalize the notion of compositional semantics to cope with transfinite reductions of a transition system. Standard denotational and predicate transformer semantics, even though compositional, provide inadequate models for some known program manipulation techniques. We are interested in the systematic design of extended compositional semantics, observing possible transfinite computations, i.e. computations that may occur after a given number of infinite loops. This generalization is necessary to deal with program manipulation techniques modifying the termination status of programs, such as program slicing. We include the transfinite generalization of semantics in the hierarchy developed in 1997 by P. Cousot, where semantics at different levels of abstraction are related with each other by abstract interpretation. We prove that a specular hierarchy of non-standard semantics modeling transfinite computations of programs can be specifiedin such a way that the standard hierarchy can be derived by abstract interpretation. We prove that non-standard transfinite denotational and predicate transformer semantics can be both systematically derived as solutions of simple abstract domain equations involving the basic operation of reduced power of abstract domains. This allows us to prove the optimality of these semantics, i.e. they are the most abstract semantics in the hierarchy which are compositional and observe respectively the terminating and initial states of transfinite computations, providing an adequate mathematical model for program manipulation.     

Semantic theories of programs with nested interrupts

In the design of dependable software for embedded and real-time operating systems, time analysis is a crucial but extremely difficult issue, the challenge of which is exacerbated due to the randomness and nondeterminism of interrupt handling behaviors. Thus research into a theory that integrates interrupt behaviors and time analysis seems to be important and challenging. In this paper, we present a programming language to describe programs with interrupts that is comprised of two essential parts: main program and interrupt handling programs. We also explore a timed operational semantics and a denotational semantics to specify the meanings of our language. Furthermore, a strategy of deriving denotational semantics from the timed operational semantics is provided to demonstrate the soundness of our operational semantics by showing the consistency between the derived denotational semantics and the original denotational semantics.     

A process oriented semantics of the PRAM-language FORK

The parallel language FORK [1], based on a scalable shared memory model, is a PASCAL-like language with some additional parallel constructs. A PRAM (Parallel Random Access Machine) algorithm can be expressed on a high level of abstraction as a FORK program which is translated into efficient PRAM code guaranteeing theoretically predicted runtimes.

In this paper, we concentrate on those features of the language FORK related to parallelism, such as the group concept, a shared memory access and synchronous or asynchronous execution. We present a trace-based denotational interleaving semantics where processes describe synchronous computations. Processes are created or deleted dynamically and run asynchronously. Interleaving rules reflect the underlying CRCW (concurrent-read-concurrent-write) PRAM model.     

Algebraic theory of probabilistic processes

In this paper we extend de Nicola and Hennessy’s testing theory to deal with probabilities. We say that two processes are testing equivalent if the probabilities with which they pass any test are equal. We present three alternative semantic views of our testing equivalence. First, we introduce adequate extensions of acceptance sets (inducing an operational characterization) and acceptance trees (inducing a denotational semantics). We also present a sound and complete axiomatization of our testing equivalence. So, this paper represents a complete study of the adaptation of the classical testing theory for probabilistic processes.     

一个面向对象的实时分布式语言的指称语义

本文给出了一个面向对象的实时分布式语言的指称语义，在不同层次Ｌ给出了语句、对象和程序的清晰描述．提出了实时状态的概念．借助于它，在指称语义的框架内，简洁地刻画了语言的实时特性．     

Dealing Denotationally With Stream-based Communication

We define a denotational semantics for a kernel-calculus of the parallel functional language Eden. We choose continuations to deal with side-effects (process creation and communication) in a lazy context. The calculus includes streams for communication, and their modelization by a denotational semantics is not direct because a stream may be infinite.     

语义转换--直接指称语义到接续指称语义

指称语义分为直接指称语义和接续指称语义，其中后一种语义描述的难度较大，给出了直接指称语义描述到接续指称语义描述的转换方法，这就使得这种语义转换的自动化成为可能．转换算法揭示了直接指称语义与接续指称语义之间的内在关系，同时也提供了写接续指称语义描述的有效方法．当需要检验同一种语言的直接指称语义描述和接续指称语义描述是否等价时，提供的技术是很有用的。     

Executing continuation semantics: A comparison

Several authors have suggested translating denotational semantics into prototype interpreters written in high-level programming languages to provide evaluation tools for language designers. These implementations have generally been understandable when restricted to direct denotational semantics. This paper considers using two declarative programming languages, Prolog and Standard ML, to implement an interpreter that follows the continuation semantics of a small imperative programming language, called Gull. Each of the two declarative languages presents certain difficulties related to evaluation strategies and expressiveness. The implementations are compared in terms of their ease of use for prototyping, their resemblance to the denotational definitions, and their efficiency.     

A semantic approach for automated test oracle generation

This paper presents the design, implementation, and applications of a software testing tool, TAO, which allows users to specify and generate test cases and oracles in a declarative way. Extended from its previous grammar-based test generation tool, TAO provides a declarative notation for defining denotational semantics on each productive grammar rule, such that when a test case is generated, its expected semantics will be evaluated automatically as well, serving as its test oracle. TAO further provides a simple tagging mechanism to embed oracles into test cases for bridging the automation between test case generation and software testing. Two practical case studies are used to illustrate how automated oracle generation can be effectively integrated with grammar-based test generation in different testing scenarios: locating fault-inducing input patterns on Java applications; and Selenium-based automated web testing.     

Semantics of plan revision in intelligent agents

In this paper, we give an operational and denotational semantics for a meta-language of the 3APL agent programming language. With this meta-language, various 3APL interpreters can be programmed. We prove equivalence of the operational and denotational semantics. Furthermore, we give an operational semantics for object-level 3APL. Using this semantics, we relate the 3APL meta-language to object-level 3APL by providing a specific interpreter, the semantics of which will prove to be equivalent to object-level 3APL.     

Three Inadequate Models

The connection between operational and denotational semantics is of longstanding interest in the study of programming languages. The emphasis has been on positive results, whether for adequacy or full abstraction. One normally considers the standard solution of an evident natural domain equation for the language; this is generally adequate but not fully abstract if one uses any of the usual categories of domains. One then tries other categories to get improved results. Here we restrict ourselves to a standard category of domains and show, for an untyped λ-calculus with arithmetic, that inadequate models exist if one considers non-standard solutions to the domain equation. One model is inadequate, simpliciter; a second is adequate but inadequate when the language is extended by a “parallel or” construct; the third is adequate in the latter sense, but in it the Y-combinator does not denote the least fixed point operator. We also consider whether it is possible to do better than the standard solution as regards full abstraction. Surprisingly this question only makes sense for solutions which are adequate for the extended language. For these the standard solution is indeed closest to full abstraction, justifying the use of non-standard categories. Received October 2000 / Accepted in revised form April 2001     

Denotational semantics of a synchronous VHDL subset

A denotational definition for a single clock synchronous subset of VHDL is proposed. The different domains for variables and signals, the elaboration of static environments, and the formulation of a simulation algorithm for the sub-language characterize this definition, and distinguish it from more traditional denotational semantics of programming languages.     

Encoding, Decoding and Data Refinement

Data refinement is the systematic replacement of a data structure with another one in program development. Data refinement between program statements can on an abstract level be described as a commutativity property where the abstraction relationship between the data structures involved is represented by an abstract statement (a decoding). We generalise the traditional notion of data refinement by defining an encoding operator that describes the least (most abstract) data refinement with respect to a given abstraction. We investigate the categorical and algebraic properties of encoding and describe a number of special cases, which include traditional notions of data refinement. The dual operator of encoding is decoding, which we investigate and give an intuitive interpretation to. Finally we show a number of applications of encoding and decoding. Received May 1999 / Accepted in revised form November 2000     

使用延时演算的时间化RSL的指称语义

使用扩展的持续时间演算(EDC)模型,给出了时间化的RAISE描述语言(RSL)的一个子集的指称语义.在扩展的持续时间演算模型中加入了一些新的特征,并探究了它们的代数定律.这些定律在形式化实时程序和验证实时性质中起着重要作用.最后还给出了时间化RSL的一些代数定律.这些定律可以从其指称语义证明,并用于程序的转化和优化.     

一个类Java语言的指称语义

文章提出了一个简化的Java语言SimpleJ并给出了此语言的指称语义。SimpleJ是一个简单的面向对象语言,具有Java语言的基本语义特点,该文通过对SimpleJ语言的语义域和语义方程的刻画和描述,讨论了以对象类型和异常语句为主的Java语言的语义特征。     

接续到直接的指称语义转换

接续和直接指称语义之间的转换的主要难点在于不保函数基调．基于Monad思想推导出的接续语义函数和直接语义函数之间的关系，给出了基于规约的从接续指称语义描述形式到直接指称语义描述形式的转换技术，分别考虑了接续函数在不同情形下的处理．最后给出了转换算法的Haskell实现系统，验证了转换的可行性．     

Using fixed-point semantics to prove retiming lemmas

Algorithms designed for VLSI implementation are commonly described by directed graphs, in which the nodes represent functional units and the arcs indicate communication links. We give a denotational semantics for such a graph in terms of the least fixed point of a set of (mutually recursive) function definitions, describing the outputs produced at each node as a function of time. This semantics is consistent with the conventional clocked operational semantics of the system. A retiming is a systematic modification of the internode delays of a design, often used to convert an algorithm design into a systolic form. The utility of such retimings in optimizing the behavior of designs is well known. We use fixed-point semantics to provide simple proofs of the correctness of certain retiming transformations from the literature and to justify other design transformations such as pipelining.     

A UTP semantic model for Orc language with execution status and fault handling

The Orc language is a concurrency calculus proposed to study the orchestration patterns in service oriented computing. Its special features, such as high concurrency and asynchronism make it a brilliant subject for studying web applications that rely on web services. The conventional semantics for Orc does not contain the execution status of services so that a program cannot determine whether a service has terminated normally or halted with a failure after it published some results. It means that this kind of failure cannot be captured by the fault handler. Furthermore, such a semantic model cannot establish an order saying that a program is better if it fails less often. This paper employs UTP methods to propose a denotational semantic model for Orc that contains execution status information. A failure handling semantics is defined to recover a failure execution back to normal. A refinement order is defined to compare two systems based on their execution failures. Based on this order, a system that introduces a failure recovery mechanism is considered better than one without. An extended operational semantics is also proposed and proven to be equivalent to the denotational semantics.