19914316
Extending the Accommodating Function
The applicability of the accommodating function, a relatively new measure for the quality of on-line algorithms, is extended. If a limited amount n of some resource is available, the accommodating function A(?) is the competitive ratio when input sequences are restricted to those for which the amount ?n of resources suffices for an optimal off-line algorithm. The accommodating function was originally used only for ? ? 1. We focus on ? < 1, observe that the function now appears interesting for a greater variety of problems, and use it to make new distinctions between known algorithms and to find new ones.
80794
Efficient Rebalancing of Chromatic Search Trees
Chromatic trees were defined by Nurmi and Soisalon-Soininen, as a new type of binary search tree for databases. The aim is to improve runtime performance by allowing a greater degree of concurrency, which, in turn, is obtained by uncoupling updating from rebalancing. This also allows rebalancing to be postponed completely or partially until after peak working hours. The advantages of the proposal of Nurmi and Soisalon-Soininen are quite significant, but there are definite problems with it. First, they give no explicit upper bound on the complexity of their algorithm. Second, some of their rebalancing operations can be applied many more times than necessary. Third, some of their operations, when removing one problem, create another. We define a new set of rebalancing operations which we prove give rise to at most @?log"2(N+1)@?-1 rebalancing operations per insertion and at most @?log"2(N+1)@?-2 rebalancing operations per deletion, where N is the maximum size the tree could ever have, given its initial size and the number of insertions performed. Most of these rebalancing operations, in fact, do no restructuring; they simply move weights around. The number of operations which actually change the structure of the tree is at most one per update.
6986183
Efficient Simplification of Bisimulation Formulas
The problem of checking or optimally simplifying bisimulation formulas is likely to be computationally very hard. We take a different view at the problem: we set out to define a very fast algorithm, and then see what we can obtain. Sometimes our algorithm can simplify a formula perfectly, sometimes it cannot. However, the algorithm is extremely fast and can, therefore, be added to formula-based bisimulation model checkers at practically no cost. When the formula can be simplified by our algorithm, this can have a dramatic positive effect on the better, but also more time consuming, theorem provers which will finish the job.
28707658
Bounds on Certain Multiplications of Affine Combinations
Let A and B be n × n matrices the entries of which are affine combinations of the variables a1,…,am, b1,…,bm over GF(2). Suppose that, for each i, 1 ⩽ i ⩽ m, the term aibi is an element of the product matrix C = A · B. What is the maximum value that m can have as a function of n? This question arises from a recent technique for improving the communication complexity of zero-knowledge proofs. 
 
The obvious upper bound of n2 is improved to n233+ O(n). Tighter bounds are obtained for smaller values of n. The bounds for n = 2, n = 3, and n = 4 are tight.
30882911
Complexity of Layered Binary Search Trees with Relaxed Balance
When search trees are made relaxed, balance constraints are weakened such that updates can be made without immediate rebalancing. This can lead to a speed-up in some circumstances. However, the weakened balance constraints also make it more challenging to prove complexity results for relaxed structures.In our opinion, one of the simplest and most intuitive presentations of balanced search trees has been given via layered trees. We show that relaxed layered trees are among the best of the relaxed structures. More precisely, rebalancing is worst-case logarithmic and amortized constant per update, and restructuring is worst-case constant per update.
34233329
Search Trees with Relaxed Balance and Near-Optimal Height
We introduce the relaxed k-tree, a search tree with relaxed balance and a height bound, when in balance, of (1 + Ɛ) log2 n + 1, for any Ɛ > 0. The rebalancing work is amortized O(1/Ɛ) per update. This is the first binary search tree with relaxed balance having a height bound better than c ċ log2 n for a fixed constant c. In all previous proposals, the constant is at least 1/ log2 Φ > 1.44, where Φ is the golden ratio. 
 
As a consequence, we can also define a standard (non-relaxed) k-tree with amortized constant rebalancing per update, which is an improvement over the original definition. 
 
Search engines based on main-memory databases with strongly fluctuating workloads are possible applications for this line of work.
16545835
UPPAAL Implementation Secrets
In this paper we present the continuous and on-going development of datastructures and algorithms underlying the verification engine of the tool UPPAAL. In particular, we review the datastructures of Difference Bounded Matrices, Minimal Constraint Representation and Clock Difference Diagrams used in symbolic state-space representation and -analysis for real-time systems.In addition we report on distributed versions of the tool, and outline the design and experimental results for new internal datastructures to be used in the next generation of UPPAAL.Finally, we mention work on complementing methods involving acceleration, abstraction and compositionality.
58171597
Compositional Model Checking of Real Time Systems
We present a compositional model checking technique for networks of timed automata. This method is based on the same idea as the recent method proposed by Andersen [4] for untimed case. We present a quotient construction, which allows timed automata components to be gradually moved from the network expression into the specification. The intermediate specifications are kept small using minimization heuristics suggested by Andersen. The potential of the combined technique is demonstrated using a prototype implemented in CAML.
336650
UPPAAL 4.0
UPPAAL 4.0 is the result of over two and a half years of development and contains many new features, additions to the modeling language, performance improvements, enhancements and polish to the easy to use graphical user interface, and is accompanied by several open source libraries. The tool and libraries are available free of charge for academic, educational and evaluation purposes from http://www.uppaal.com/. We describe three of the new features: user defined functions, priorities and symmetry reduction
9169243
Verification of Large State/Event Systems Using Compositionality and Dependency Analysis
A state/event model is a concurrent version of Mealy machines used for describing embedded reactive systems. This paper introduces a technique that uses compositionality and dependency analysis to significantly improve the efficiency of symbolic model checking of state/event models. It makes possible automated verification of large industrial designs with the use of only modest resources (less than 5 minutes on a standard PC for a model with 1421 concurrent machines). The results of the paper are being implemented in the next version of the commercial tool visualSTATETM.
14643249
The Methodology of Modal Constraints
We present a complete solution of the RPC-Memory Specification Problem, by applying a constraint-oriented state-based proof methodology for concurrent software systems. Our methodolgy exploits compositionality and abstraction for the reduction of the verification problem under investigation. Formal basis for this methodology are Modal Transition Systems allowing loose state-based specifications, which can be refined by successively adding constraints. Key concepts of our method are projective views, separation of proof obligations, Skolemization and abstraction. Central to the method is the use of Parametrized Modal Transition Systems. The method extends elegantly to real-time systems.