A Denotational Semantics for Parameterised Networks of Synchronised Automata

Abstract

Parameterised Networks of Synchronised Automata (pNets) is a machine-oriented semantic formalism used for specifying and verifying the behaviour of distributed components or systems. In addition, it can be used to define the semantics of languages in the parallel and distributed computation area. Unlike other traditional process calculi, p-Nets only own one pNet node as an operator which composes all subnets running in parallel. Using this single synchronisation artifact, it is capable of expressing many operators or synchronisation mechanisms. In this paper, we explore a denotational semantics for parameterised networks. The denotational semantics of parameterised networks we investigate is based on the behaviours of their subnets. The behaviour of a subnet is determined by both its state and the actions it executes. Based on the traces of a set of subnets, the behaviour of a pNet consisting of those subnets can be deduced. A set of algebraic laws is also explored based on the denotational semantics.