The doctoral dissertations of the former Helsinki University of Technology (TKK) and Aalto University Schools of Technology (CHEM, ELEC, ENG, SCI) published in electronic format are available in the electronic publications archive of Aalto University - Aaltodoc.
Aalto

Automata-Theoretic and Bounded Model Checking for Linear Temporal Logic

Timo Latvala

Dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Science in Technology to be presented with due permission of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering for public examination and debate in Auditorium T2 at Helsinki University of Technology (Espoo, Finland) on the 12th of August, 2005, at 12 o'clock noon.

Overview in PDF format (ISBN 951-22-7788-3)   [591 KB]
Dissertation is also available in print (ISBN 951-22-7787-5)

Abstract

In this work we study methods for model checking the temporal logic LTL. The focus is on the automata-theoretic approach to model checking and bounded model checking.

We begin by examining automata-theoretic methods to model check LTL safety properties. The model checking problem can be reduced to checking whether the language of a finite state automaton on finite words is empty. We describe an efficient algorithm for generating small finite state automata for so called non-pathological safety properties. The presented implementation is the first tool able to decide whether a formula is non-pathological. The experimental results show that treating safety properties can benefit model checking at very little cost. In addition, we find supporting evidence for the view that minimising the automaton representing the property does not always lead to a small product state space. A deterministic property automaton can result in a smaller product state space even though it might have a larger number states.

Next we investigate modular analysis. Modular analysis is a state space reduction method for modular Petri nets. The method can be used to construct a reduced state space called the synchronisation graph. We devise an on-the-fly automata-theoretic method for model checking the behaviour of a modular Petri net from the synchronisation graph. The solution is based on reducing the model checking problem to an instance of verification with testers. We analyse the tester verification problem and present an efficient on-the-fly algorithm, the first complete solution to tester verification problem, based on generalised nested depth-first search.

We have also studied propositional encodings for bounded model checking LTL. A new simple linear sized encoding is developed and experimentally evaluated. The implementation in the NuSMV2 model checker is competitive with previously presented encodings. We show how to generalise the LTL encoding to a more succint logic: LTL with past operators. The generalised encoding compares favourably with previous encodings for LTL with past operators. Links between bounded model checking and the automata-theoretic approach are also explored.

This thesis consists of an overview and of the following 5 publications:

  1. Timo Latvala. 2003. Efficient model checking of safety properties. In: T. Ball and S. Rajamani, editors, Model Checking Software. 10th International SPIN Workshop, Portland, Oregon, USA. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, volume 2648, pp. 74-88. © 2003 Springer-Verlag. By permission.
  2. Timo Latvala and Marko Mäkelä. 2004. LTL model checking for modular Petri nets. In: J. Cortadella and W. Reisig, editors, Applications and Theory of Petri Nets 2004. 25th International Conference, ICATPN 2004, Bologna, Italy. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, volume 3099, pp. 298-311. © 2004 Springer-Verlag. By permission.
  3. Timo Latvala and Heikki Tauriainen. 2004. Improved on-the-fly verification with testers. Nordic Journal of Computing, 11 (2): 148-164. © 2004 Publishing Association Nordic Journal of Computing. By permission.
  4. Timo Latvala, Armin Biere, Keijo Heljanko, and Tommi Junttila. 2004. Simple bounded LTL model checking. In: A. Hu and A. Martin, editors, Formal Methods in Computer-Aided Design 2004. 5th International Conference, FMCAD 2004, Austin, Texas, USA. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, volume 3312, pp. 186-200. © 2004 Springer-Verlag. By permission.
  5. Timo Latvala, Armin Biere, Keijo Heljanko, and Tommi Junttila. 2005. Simple is better: efficient bounded model checking for past LTL. In: R. Cousot, editor, Verification, Model Checking, and Abstract Interpretation 2005. 6th International Conference, VMCAI 2005, Paris, France. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, volume 3385, pp. 380-395. © 2005 Springer-Verlag. By permission.

Errata of publications 1, 2, 4 and 5

Keywords: verification, model checking, LTL, automata, safety properties, Petri nets, modular analysis, LTS, testers, bounded model checking, PLTL

This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.

© 2005 Helsinki University of Technology

Last update 2011-05-26