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Process transition networks: A formal graphical knowledge representation tool

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Methodologies for Intelligent Systems (ISMIS 1991)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 542))

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Abstract

A formal definition of Process Transition Networks (PTNs), recently introduced by Sandewall [San90], is presented. PTNs may be used as a graphical language to describe complex, qualitative processes; processes, which are difficult to express quantitatively even with the help of causal dependencies. The formal definition of the language is based on graph theory, and has strong similarities with Petri net theory. PTNs are first introduced informally, followed by syntactic and semantic specifications. The relation between PTNs and Petri nets is considered, and it is shown that although PTNs have no more expressivity than Petri nets, their flexibility as a representation language for complex processes justifies their existence.

This research was supported by the IT4 research program.

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References

  1. David Harel. Statecharts: A visual formalism for complex systems. Science of Computer Programming, 8:231–274, 1987.

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  2. Jacek Malec. Passing an intersection. Technical Report LAIC-IDA-90-TR19, Department of Computer Science, Linköping University, 1990.

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  3. Jacek Malec. Process Transition Networks: A Formal Definition. Technical Report LAIC-IDA-90-TR40, Department of Computer Science, Linköping University, 1990.

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  4. Jacek Malec. Process Transition Networks: What Are They For? Technical Report LAIC-IDA-91-TR6, Department of Computer Science, Linköping University, 1991. Accepted to IEEE SMC Conference.

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  6. Erik Sandewall. Proposal for a ProArt specification platform. Technical Report LAIC-IDA-90-TR18, IDA, Linköping University, 1990.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer and Information Science, Linköping University, S-581 83, Linköping, Sweden

    Jacek Malec

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  1. Jacek Malec
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Z. W. Ras M. Zemankova

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© 1991 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Malec, J. (1991). Process transition networks: A formal graphical knowledge representation tool. In: Ras, Z.W., Zemankova, M. (eds) Methodologies for Intelligent Systems. ISMIS 1991. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 542. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-54563-8_83

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-54563-8_83

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-54563-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-38466-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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