A Formal Definition Universe for Complexes of Interacting Digital Systems

Abstract

A language is presented for describing any asynchronous complex of interacting digital systems at any level of abstraction. The resulting representation is a definition of the complex of systems which is both formal, and effective, meaning that it is interpretable by a deterministic automaton. Thus it can be used to study system structures and develop practical design tools. After the explanation of the formal definition universe, annotated examples of system representations are given. Their usefulness for proving assertions about systems is established in an outline of present and future research, with the ultimate goal of providing assistance for the total design process.