Showing papers on "Undecidable problem published in 2018"

Learning Loop Invariants for Program Verification

Abstract: A fundamental problem in program verification concerns inferring loop invariants. The problem is undecidable and even practical instances are challenging. Inspired by how human experts construct loop invariants, we propose a reasoning framework Code2Inv that constructs the solution by multi-step decision making and querying an external program graph memory block. By training with reinforcement learning, Code2Inv captures rich program features and avoids the need for ground truth solutions as supervision. Compared to previous learning tasks in domains with graph-structured data, it addresses unique challenges, such as a binary objective function and an extremely sparse reward that is given by an automated theorem prover only after the complete loop invariant is proposed. We evaluate Code2Inv on a suite of 133 benchmark problems and compare it to three state-of-the-art systems. It solves 106 problems compared to 73 by a stochastic search-based system, 77 by a heuristic search-based system, and 100 by a decision tree learning-based system. Moreover, the strategy learned can be generalized to new programs: compared to solving new instances from scratch, the pre-trained agent is more sample efficient in finding solutions.

Strategy Logic with Imperfect Information

Abstract: We introduce an extension of Strategy Logic for the imperfect-information setting, called SLii, and study its model-checking problem. As this logic naturally captures multi-player games with imperfect information, the problem turns out to be undecidable. We introduce a syntactical class of "hierarchical instances" for which, intuitively, as one goes down the syntactic tree of the formula, strategy quantifications are concerned with finer observations of the model. We prove that model-checking SLii restricted to hierarchical instances is decidable. This result, because it allows for complex patterns of existential and universal quantification on strategies, greatly generalises previous ones, such as decidability of multi-player games with imperfect information and hierarchical observations, and decidability of distributed synthesis for hierarchical systems. To establish the decidability result, we introduce and study QCTL*ii, an extension of QCTL* (itself an extension of CTL* with second-order quantification over atomic propositions) by parameterising its quantifiers with observations. The simple syntax of QCTL* ii allows us to provide a conceptually neat reduction of SLii to QCTL*ii that separates concerns, allowing one to forget about strategies and players and focus solely on second-order quantification. While the model-checking problem of QCTL*ii is, in general, undecidable, we identify a syntactic fragment of hierarchical formulas and prove, using an automata-theoretic approach, that it is decidable. The decidability result for SLii follows since the reduction maps hierarchical instances of SLii to hierarchical formulas of QCTL*ii .

Quantifiers on Demand

Abstract: Automated program verification is a difficult problem. It is undecidable even for transition systems over Linear Integer Arithmetic (LIA). Extending the transition system with theory of Arrays, further complicates the problem by requiring inference and reasoning with universally quantified formulas. In this paper, we present a new algorithm, Quic3, that extends IC3 to infer universally quantified invariants over the combined theory of LIA and Arrays. Unlike other approaches that use either IC3 or an SMT solver as a black box, Quic3 carefully manages quantified generalization (to construct quantified invariants) and quantifier instantiation (to detect convergence in the presence of quantifiers). While Quic3 is not guaranteed to converge, it is guaranteed to make progress by exploring longer and longer executions. We have implemented Quic3 within the Constrained Horn Clause solver engine of Z3 and experimented with it by applying Quic3 to verifying a variety of public benchmarks of array manipulating C programs.

The Satisfiability of Word Equations: Decidable and Undecidable Theories

Abstract: The study of word equations is a central topic in mathematics and theoretical computer science. Recently, the question of whether a given word equation, augmented with various constraints/extensions, has a solution has gained critical importance in the context of string SMT solvers for security analysis. We consider the decidability of this question in several natural variants and thus shed light on the boundary between decidability and undecidability for many fragments of the first order theory of word equations and their extensions. In particular, we show that when extended with several natural predicates on words, the existential fragment becomes undecidable. On the other hand, the positive \(\varSigma _2\) fragment is decidable, and in the case that at most one terminal symbol appears in the equations, remains so even when length constraints are added. Moreover, if negation is allowed, it is possible to model arbitrary equations with length constraints using only equations containing a single terminal symbol and length constraints. Finally, we show that deciding whether solutions exist for a restricted class of equations, augmented with many of the predicates leading to undecidability in the general case, is possible in non-deterministic polynomial time.

Undecidability and Irreducibility Conditions for Open-Ended Evolution and Emergence

Abstract: Is undecidability a requirement for open-ended evolution (OEE)? Using methods derived from algorithmic complexity theory, we propose robust computational definitions of open-ended evolution and the adaptability of computable dynamical systems. Within this framework, we show that decidability imposes absolute limits on the stable growth of complexity in computable dynamical systems. Conversely, systems that exhibit (strong) open-ended evolution must be undecidable, establishing undecidability as a requirement for such systems. Complexity is assessed in terms of three measures: sophistication, coarse sophistication, and busy beaver logical depth. These three complexity measures assign low complexity values to random (incompressible) objects. As time grows, the stated complexity measures allow for the existence of complex states during the evolution of a computable dynamical system. We show, however, that finding these states involves undecidable computations. We conjecture that for similar complexity measures that assign low complexity values, decidability imposes comparable limits on the stable growth of complexity, and that such behavior is necessary for nontrivial evolutionary systems. We show that the undecidability of adapted states imposes novel and unpredictable behavior on the individuals or populations being modeled. Such behavior is irreducible. Finally, we offer an example of a system, first proposed by Chaitin, that exhibits strong OEE.

Rational Synthesis Under Imperfect Information

Abstract: In this paper, we study the rational synthesis problem for turn-based multiplayer non zero-sum games played on finite graphs for omega-regular objectives. Rationality is formalized by the concept of Nash equilibrium (NE). Contrary to previous works, we consider here the more general and more practically relevant case where players are imperfectly informed. In sharp contrast with the perfect information case, NE are not guaranteed to exist in this more general setting. This motivates the study of the NE existence problem. We show that this problem is ExpTime-C for parity objectives in the two-player case (even if both players are imperfectly informed) and undecidable for more than 2 players. We then study the rational synthesis problem and show that the problem is also ExpTime-C for two imperfectly informed players and undecidable for more than 3 players. As the rational synthesis problem considers a system (Player 0) playing against a rational environment (composed of k players), we also consider the natural case where only Player 0 is imperfectly informed about the state of the environment (and the environment is considered as perfectly informed). In this case, we show that the ExpTime-C result holds when k is arbitrary but fixed. We also analyse the complexity when k is part of the input.

Small Undecidable Problems in Epistemic Planning

Abstract: Epistemic planning extends classical planning with knowledge and is based on dynamic epistemic logic (DEL). The epistemic planning problem is undecidable in general. We exhibit a small undecidable subclass of epistemic planning over 2-agent S5 models with a fixed repertoire of one action, 6 propositions and a fixed goal. We furthermore consider a variant of the epistemic planning problem where the initial knowledge state is an automatic structure, hence possibly infinite. In that case, we show the epistemic planning problem with 1 public action and 2 propositions to be undecidable, while it is known to be decidable with public actions over finite models. Our results are obtained by reducing the reachability problem over small universal cellular automata. While our reductions yield a goal formula that displays the common knowledge operator, we show, for each of our considered epistemic problems, a reduction into an epistemic planning problem for a common-knowledge-operator-free goal formula by using 2 additional actions.

A Note on Strictly Positive Logics and Word Rewriting Systems

Abstract: We establish a natural translation from word rewriting systems to strictly positive polymodal logics. Thereby, the latter can be considered as a generalization of the former. As a corollary we obtain examples of undecidable finitely axiomatizable strictly positive normal modal logics. The translation has its counterpart on the level of proofs: we formulate a natural deep inference proof system for strictly positive logics generalizing derivations in word rewriting systems. We also make some observations and formulate open questions related to the theory of modal companions of superintuitionistic logics that was initiated by L.L. Maksimova and V.V. Rybakov.

Finite Query Answering in Expressive Description Logics with Transitive Roles.

Abstract: We study the problem of finite ontology mediated query answering (FOMQA), the variant of OMQA where the represented world is assumed to be finite, and thus only finite models of the ontology are considered. We adopt the most typical setting with unions of conjunctive queries and ontologies expressed in description logics (DLs). The study of FOMQA is relevant in settings that are not finitely controllable. This is the case not only for DLs without the finite model property, but also for those allowing transitive role declarations. When transitive roles are allowed, evaluating queries is challenging: FOMQA is undecidable for SHOIF and only known to be decidable for the Horn fragment of ALCIF. We show decidability of FOMQA for three proper fragments of SOIF: SOI, SOF, and SIF. Our approach is to characterise models relevant for deciding finite query entailment. Relying on a certain regularity of these models, we develop automata-based decision procedures with optimal complexity bounds.

Expressive Power, Satisfiability and Equivalence of Circuits over Nilpotent Algebras.

Abstract: Satisfiability of Boolean circuits is NP-complete in general but becomes polynomial time when restricted for example either to monotone gates or linear gates. We go outside Boolean realm and consider circuits built of any fixed set of gates on an arbitrary large finite domain. From the complexity point of view this is connected with solving equations over finite algebras. This in turn is one of the oldest and well-known mathematical problems which for centuries was the driving force of research in algebra. Let us only mention Galois theory, Gaussian elimination or Diophantine Equations. The last problem has been shown to be undecidable, however in finite realms such problems are obviously decidable in nondeterministic polynomial time. A project of characterizing finite algebras m A with polynomial time algorithms deciding satisfiability of circuits over m A has been undertaken in [Pawel M. Idziak and Jacek Krzaczkowski, 2018]. Unfortunately that paper leaves a gap for nilpotent but not supernilpotent algebras. In this paper we discuss possible attacks on filling this gap.

Bundled Fragments of First-Order Modal Logic: (Un)Decidability

Abstract: Quantified modal logic is notorious for being undecidable, with very few known decidable fragments such as the monodic ones. For instance, even the two-variable fragment over unary predicates is undecidable. In this paper, we study a particular fragment, namely the bundled fragment, where a first-order quantifier is always followed by a modality when occurring in the formula, inspired by the proposal of [Yanjing Wang, 2017] in the context of non-standard epistemic logics of know-what, know-how, know-why, and so on. As always with quantified modal logics, it makes a significant difference whether the domain stays the same across possible worlds. In particular, we show that the predicate logic with the bundle "forall Box" alone is undecidable over constant domain interpretations, even with only monadic predicates, whereas having the "exists Box" bundle instead gives us a decidable logic. On the other hand, over increasing domain interpretations, we get decidability with both "forall Box" and "exists Box" bundles with unrestricted predicates, where we obtain tableau based procedures that run in PSPACE. We further show that the "exists Box" bundle cannot distinguish between constant domain and variable domain interpretations.

Computational complexity of PEPS zero testing

Abstract: Projected entangled pair states aim at describing lattice systems in two spatial dimensions that obey an area law. They are specified by associating a tensor with each site, and they are generated by patching these tensors. We consider the problem of determining whether the state resulting from this patching is null, and prove it to be NP-hard; the PEPS used to prove this claim have a boundary and are homogeneous in their bulk. A variation of this problem is next shown to be undecidable. These results have various implications: they question the possibility of a 'fundamental theorem' for PEPS; there are PEPS for which the presence of a symmetry is undecidable; there exist parent hamiltonians of PEPS for which the existence of a gap above the ground state is undecidable. En passant, we identify a family of classical Hamiltonians, with nearest neighbour interactions, and translationally invariant in their bulk, for which the commuting 2-local Hamiltonian problem is NP-complete.

Decidable Verification of Uninterpreted Programs

Abstract: We study the problem of completely automatically verifying uninterpreted programs---programs that work over arbitrary data models that provide an interpretation for the constants, functions and relations the program uses. The verification problem asks whether a given program satisfies a postcondition written using quantifier-free formulas with equality on the final state, with no loop invariants, contracts, etc. being provided. We show that this problem is undecidable in general. The main contribution of this paper is a subclass of programs, called coherent programs that admits decidable verification, and can be decided in PSPACE. We then extend this class of programs to classes of programs that are $k$-coherent, where $k \in \mathbb{N}$, obtained by (automatically) adding $k$ ghost variables and assignments that make them coherent. We also extend the decidability result to programs with recursive function calls and prove several undecidability results that show why our restrictions to obtain decidability seem necessary.

Hierarchical information and the synthesis of distributed strategies

Abstract: Infinite games with imperfect information are known to be undecidable unless the information flow is severely restricted. One fundamental decidable case occurs when there is a total ordering among players, such that each player has access to all the information that the following ones receive. In this paper we consider variations of this hierarchy principle for synchronous games with perfect recall, and identify new decidable classes for which the distributed synthesis problem is solvable with finite-state strategies. In particular, we show that decidability is maintained when the information hierarchy may change along the play, or when transient phases without hierarchical information are allowed. Finally, we interpret our result in terms of distributed system architectures.

Reasoning about Knowledge and Strategies under Hierarchical Information.

Abstract: Two distinct semantics have been considered for knowledge in the context of strategic reasoning, depending on whether players know each other's strategy or not The problem of distributed synthesis for epistemic temporal specifications is known to be undecidable for the latter semantics, already on systems with hierarchical information However, for the other, uninformed semantics, the problem is decidable on such systems In this work we generalise this result by introducing an epistemic extension of Strategy Logic with imperfect information The semantics of knowledge operators is uninformed, and captures agents that can change observation power when they change strategies We solve the model-checking problem on a class of "hierarchical instances", which provides a solution to a vast class of strategic problems with epistemic temporal specifications on hierarchical systems, such as distributed synthesis or rational synthesis

The first-order logic of signals: keynote

Abstract: Formalizing properties of systems with continuous dynamics is a challenging task. In this paper, we propose a formal framework for specifying and monitoring rich temporal properties of real-valued signals. We introduce signal first-order logic (SFO) as a specification language that combines first-order logic with linear-real arithmetic and unary function symbols interpreted as piecewise-linear signals. We first show that while the satisfiability problem for SFO is undecidable, its membership and monitoring problems are decidable. We develop an offline monitoring procedure for SFO that has polynomial complexity in the size of the input trace and the specification, for a fixed number of quantifiers and function symbols. We show that the algorithm has computation time linear in the size of the input trace for the important fragment of bounded-response specifications interpreted over input traces with finite variability. We can use our results to extend signal temporal logic with first-order quantifiers over time and value parameters, while preserving its efficient monitoring. We finally demonstrate the practical appeal of our logic through a case study in the micro-electronics domain.

Finite Query Answering in Expressive Description Logics with Transitive Roles

Abstract: We study the problem of finite ontology mediated query answering (FOMQA), the variant of OMQA where the represented world is assumed to be finite, and thus only finite models of the ontology are considered. We adopt the most typical setting with unions of conjunctive queries and ontologies expressed in description logics (DLs). The study of FOMQA is relevant in settings that are not finitely controllable. This is the case not only for DLs without the finite model property, but also for those allowing transitive role declarations. When transitive roles are allowed, evaluating queries is challenging: FOMQA is undecidable for SHOIF and only known to be decidable for the Horn fragment of ALCIF. We show decidability of FOMQA for three proper fragments of SOIF: SOI, SOF, and SIF. Our approach is to characterise models relevant for deciding finite query entailment. Relying on a certain regularity of these models, we develop automata-based decision procedures with optimal complexity bounds.

Polynomial-time equivalence testing for deterministic fresh-register automata

Abstract: Register automata are one of the most studied automata models over infinite alphabets. The complexity of language equivalence for register automata is quite subtle. In general, the problem is undecidable but, in the deterministic case, it is known to be decidable and in NP. Here we propose a polynomial-time algorithm building upon automata- and group-theoretic techniques. The algorithm is applicable to standard register automata with a fixed number of registers as well as their variants with a variable number of registers and ability to generate fresh data values (fresh-register automata). To complement our findings, we also investigate the associated inclusion problem and show that it is PSPACE-complete.

Completeness of Tree Automata Completion

Abstract: We consider rewriting of a regular language with a left-linear term rewriting system. We show a completeness theorem on equational tree automata completion stating that, if there exists a regular over-approximation of the set of reachable terms, then equational completion can compute it (or safely under-approximate it). A nice corollary of this theorem is that, if the set of reachable terms is regular, then equational completion can also compute it. This was known to be true for some term rewriting system classes preserving regularity, but was still an open question in the general case. The proof is not constructive because it depends on the regularity of the set of reachable terms, which is undecidable. To carry out those proofs we generalize and improve two results of completion: the Termination and the Upper-Bound theorems. Those theoretical results provide an algorithmic way to safely explore regular approximations with completion. This has been implemented in Timbuk and used to verify safety properties, automatically and efficiently, on first-order and higher-order functional programs.

Decidability of Right One-Way Jumping Finite Automata

Abstract: We continue our investigation [S. Beier, M. Holzer: Properties of right one-way jumping finite automata. In Proc. 20th DCFS, number 10952 in LNCS, 2018] on (right) one-way jumping finite automata (ROWJFA), a variant of jumping automata, which is an automaton model for discontinuous information processing. Here we focus on decision problems for ROWJFAs. It turns out that most problems such as, e.g., emptiness, finiteness, universality, the word problem and variants thereof, closure under permutation, etc., are decidable. Moreover, we show that the containment of a language within the strict hierarchy of ROWJFA permutation closed languages induced by the number of accepting states as well as whether permutation closed regular or jumping finite automata languages can be accepted by ROWJFAs is decidable, too. On the other hand, we prove that for (linear) context-free languages the corresponding ROWJFA acceptance problem becomes undecidable. Moreover, we also discuss some complexity results for the considered decision problems.

Diophantine problems in rings and algebras: undecidability and reductions to rings of algebraic integers

Abstract: We study systems of equations in different families of rings and algebras. In each such structure $R$ we interpret by systems of equations (e-interpret) a ring of integers $O$ of a global field. The long standing conjecture that $\mathbb{Z}$ is always e-interpretable in $O$ then carries over to $R$, and if true it implies that the Diophantine problem in $R$ is undecidable. The conjecture is known to be true if $O$ has positive characteristic, i.e. if $O$ is not a ring of algebraic integers. As a corollary we describe families of structures where the Diophantine problem is undecidable, and in other cases we conjecture that it is so. In passing we obtain that the first order theory with constants of all the aforementioned structures $R$ is undecidable.

A General Theory of Motion Planning Complexity: Characterizing Which Gadgets Make Games Hard.

Abstract: We build a general theory for characterizing the computational complexity of motion planning of robot(s) through a graph of "gadgets", where each gadget has its own state defining a set of allowed traversals which in turn modify the gadget's state. We study two families of such gadgets, one which naturally leads to motion planning problems with polynomially bounded solutions, and another which leads to polynomially unbounded (potentially exponential) solutions. We also study a range of competitive game-theoretic scenarios, from one player controlling one robot to teams of players each controlling their own robot and racing to achieve their team's goal. Under small restrictions on these gadgets, we fully characterize the complexity of bounded 1-player motion planning (NL vs. NP-complete), unbounded 1-player motion planning (NL vs. PSPACE-complete), and bounded 2-player motion planning (P vs. PSPACE-complete), and we partially characterize the complexity of unbounded 2-player motion planning (P vs. EXPTIME-complete), bounded 2-team motion planning (P vs. NEXPTIME-complete), and unbounded 2-team motion planning (P vs. undecidable). These results can be seen as an alternative to Constraint Logic (which has already proved useful as a basis for hardness reductions), providing a wide variety of agent-based gadgets, any one of which suffices to prove a problem hard.

Distribution-based objectives for Markov Decision Processes

Abstract: We consider distribution-based objectives for Markov Decision Processes (MDP). This class of objectives gives rise to an interesting trade-off between full and partial information. As in full observation, the strategy in the MDP can depend on the state of the system, but similar to partial information, the strategy needs to account for all the states at the same time.In this paper, we focus on two safety problems that arise naturally in this context, namely, existential and universal safety. Given an MDP A and a closed and convex polytope H of probability distributions over the states of A, the existential safety problem asks whether there exists some distribution Δ in H and a strategy of A, such that starting from Δ and repeatedly applying this strategy keeps the distribution forever in H. The universal safety problem asks whether for all distributions in H, there exists such a strategy of A which keeps the distribution forever in H. We prove that both problems are decidable, with tight complexity bounds: we show that existential safety is PTIME-complete, while universal safety is co-NP-complete.Further, we compare these results with existential and universal safety problems for Rabin's probabilistic finite-state automata (PFA), the subclass of Partially Observable MDPs which have zero observation. Compared to MDPs, strategies of PFAs are not state-dependent. In sharp contrast to the PTIME result, we show that existential safety for PFAs is undecidable, with H having closed and open boundaries. On the other hand, it turns out that the universal safety for PFAs is decidable in EXPTIME, with a co-NP lower bound. Finally, we show that an alternate representation of the input polytope allows us to improve the complexity of universal safety for MDPs and PFAs.

Faith’s problem on -projectivity is undecidable

Abstract: In \cite{F}, Faith asked for what rings $R$ does the Dual Baer Criterion hold in Mod-$R$, that is, when does $R$-projectivity imply projectivity for all right $R$-modules? Such rings $R$ were called right testing. Sandomierski proved that if $R$ is right perfect, then $R$ is right testing. Puninski et al.\ \cite{AIPY} have recently shown for a number of non-right perfect rings that they are not right testing, and noticed that \cite{T2} proved consistency with ZFC of the statement {\lq}each right testing ring is right perfect{\rq} (the proof used Shelah's uniformization). Here, we prove the complementing consistency result: the existence of a right testing, but not right perfect ring is also consistent with ZFC (our proof uses Jensen-functions). Thus the answer to the Faith's question above is undecidable in ZFC. We also provide examples of non-right perfect rings such that the Dual Baer Criterion holds for {\lq}small{\rq} modules (where {\lq}small{\rq} means countably generated, or $\leq 2^{\aleph_0}$-presented of projective dimension $\leq 1$).

When is containment decidable for probabilistic automata

Abstract: The containment problem for quantitative automata is the natural quantitative generalisation of the classical language inclusion problem for Boolean automata. We study it for probabilistic automata, where it is known to be undecidable in general. We restrict our study to the class of probabilistic automata with bounded ambiguity. There, we show decidability (subject to Schanuel's conjecture) when one of the automata is assumed to be unambiguous while the other one is allowed to be finitely ambiguous. Furthermore, we show that this is close to the most general decidable fragment of this problem by proving that it is already undecidable if one of the automata is allowed to be linearly ambiguous.

On the Expressive Completeness of Bernays-Schönfinkel-Ramsey Separation Logic

Abstract: This paper investigates the satisfiability problem for Separation Logic, with unrestricted nesting of separating conjunctions and implications, for prenex formulae with quantifier prefix in the language $\exists^*\forall^*$, in the cases where the universe of possible locations is either countably infinite or finite In analogy with first-order logic with uninterpreted predicates and equality, we call this fragment Bernays-Sch\"onfinkel-Ramsey Separation Logic [BSR(SLk)] We show that, unlike in first-order logic, the (in)finite satisfiability problem is undecidable for BSR(SLk) and we define two non-trivial subsets thereof, that are decidable for finite and infinite satisfiability, respectively, by controlling the occurrences of universally quantified variables within the scope of separating implications, as well as the polarity of the occurrences of the latter The decidability results are obtained by a controlled elimination of separating connectives, described as (i) an effective translation of a prenex form Separation Logic formula into a combination of a small number of \emph{test formulae}, using only first-order connectives, followed by (ii) a translation of the latter into an equisatisfiable first-order formula

Timed Automata with Parametric Updates

Abstract: Timed automata (TAs) represent a powerful formalism to model and verify systems where concurrency is mixed with hard timing constraints. However, they can seem limited when dealing with uncertain or unknown timing constants. Several parametric extensions were proposed in the literature, and the vast majority of them leads to the undecidability of the EF-emptiness problem: "is the set of valuations for which a given location is reachable empty?" Here, we study an extension of TAs where clocks can be updated to a parameter. While the EF-emptiness problem is undecidable for rational-valued parameters, it becomes PSPACE-complete for integer-valued parameters. In addition, exact synthesis of the parameter valuations set can be achieved. We also extend these two results to the EF-universality ("are all valuations such that a given location is reachable?"), AF-emptiness ("is the set of valuations for which a given location is unavoidable empty?") and AF-universality ("are all valuations such that a given location is unavoidable?") problems.

On the k-Boundedness for Existential Rules.

Abstract: The chase is a fundamental tool for existential rules. Several chase variants are known, which differ on how they handle redundancies possibly caused by the introduction of nulls. Given a chase variant, the halting problem takes as input a set of existential rules and asks if this set of rules ensures the termination of the chase for any factbase. It is well-known that this problem is undecidable for all known chase variants. The related problem of boundedness asks if a given set of existential rules is bounded, i.e., whether there is an upper bound on the depth of the chase, independently from any factbase. This problem is already undecidable in the specific case of datalog rules. However, knowing that a set of rules is bounded for some chase variant does not help much in practice if the bound is unknown. Hence, in this paper, we investigate the decidability of the k-boundedness problem, which asks whether a given set of rules is bounded by an integer k. After introducing a general framework which motivates a breadth-first approach to problems related to chase termination for any chase variant, we prove that k-boundedness is decidable for three chase variants.

Convex Language Semantics for Nondeterministic Probabilistic Automata

Abstract: We explore language semantics for automata combining probabilistic and nondeterministic behaviors. We first show that there are precisely two natural semantics for probabilistic automata with nondeterminism. For both choices, we show that these automata are strictly more expressive than deterministic probabilistic automata, and we prove that the problem of checking language equivalence is undecidable by reduction from the threshold problem. However, we provide a discounted metric that can be computed to arbitrarily high precision.