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Distance Functions for Defaults in Reactive Systems

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Algebraic Methodology and Software Technology (AMAST 2000)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 1816))

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Abstract

Default reasoning has become an important topic in software engineering. In particular, defaults can be used to revise specifications, to enhance reusability of existing systems, and to allow a more economic description of systems. In this paper we develop a framework for default specifications of reactive systems.

We present a formalisation of non-monotonicity in temporal logic based on the notion of default institution. Default institutions were defined as an extension of institutions in order to allow partial reuse of existing modules. The semantics of defaults is given by a (generalised) distance between interpretations. In this way, by defining a pre-order between temporal morphisms and using temporal logic as a specification language, we get a way of handling defaults in specifications of reactive systems. We illustrate the developed formalism with an example in which a specification is reused, but where the new behaviour contradicts the initial specification. In this example, the initial specification is seen as a default to which exceptions are added.

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    Sofia Guerra

Authors
  1. Sofia Guerra
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Teodor Rus

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© 2000 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Guerra, S. (2000). Distance Functions for Defaults in Reactive Systems. In: Rus, T. (eds) Algebraic Methodology and Software Technology. AMAST 2000. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1816. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45499-3_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45499-3_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-67530-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-45499-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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