Efficient Analysis of the Process Structures of Formally Defined Complexes of Interacting Digital Systems

Abstract

Basic processes are presented as uniquely suitable structural units for the initial analysis of a formally defined complex of interacting digital systems. An algorithm is given for decomposing a complex into its basic processes. The algorithm proceeds iteratively from characterizations of lesser detail to those of greater, so that analysis of any part of the system can be curtailed when the level of detail reached is suffcient. Furthermore, a modest restriction on the forms of antecedents and consequents in the systems will allow many of the operations to be performed by very efficient string manipulation algorithms. An example of this system analysis technique is worked out, and it is argued that even large designs could he studied using it.