Title:   Simulation of Composite I/O Automata

Speaker: Edward Solovey 

Place:   NE43-308
Time:    1-2:30pm
Date:    August 1, 2003

Abstract:

The IOA simulator is a tool that has been developed in the Theory of
Distributed Systems group at MIT.  This tool simulates the execution
of automata described by the IOA language.  It generates logs of
execution traces and provides other pertinent information regarding
the execution, such as the validity of specified invariants.  Although
the simulator supports paired simulation of two automata for the
purpose of checking simulation relations, one of its limitations is
its lack of support for the simulation of composite automata.  A
composite automaton represents a complex system and is made up of
other automata, each representing a system component.  My M. Eng
thesis concerns the addition of the capability to support the
simulation of composite automata to the simulator in such a manner
that will allow for observation and debugging of the individual system
component automata.  While there is work in progress on creating a
tool that will translate a composite definition into a single
automaton, the added ability to simulate composite automata directly
will add modularity, simplicity, as well as ease of observing the
behavior of individual components for the purpose of distributed
debugging.