Computing in Cause-Effect Structures

Cause-effect (c-e) structures are a formal system for specifying and implementing tasks, with examples from parallel processing, reaction systems, rough sets, Petri nets, and CSP-like languages. They can be transformed and inferred from axioms, and can be used for modelling and simulation of other descriptive systems.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 172 pages
Publication date: 29 November 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This book delves into a comprehensive exploration of various tasks represented by cause-effect (c-e) structures, which are dynamic objects designed for algebraic and graphic representation of realistic scenarios. These structures serve as a formal system that allows for the specification or implementation of tasks, depending on the level of description generality. They possess the ability to be transformed, thereby simplifying them, in accordance with the rules and axioms of their algebra. Furthermore, their properties can be inferred from these axioms.

One of the primary objectives of this book is to showcase the computing capabilities of c-e structures through numerous realistic examples, without delving into the mathematical intricacies of their algebra. Specifically, it demonstrates how c-e structures can be employed to perform computations with natural numbers and in propositional calculus, as well as how to define the behavior of data structures. Moreover, the book showcases a wide range of other tasks drawn from the domain of parallel processing, which are characterized as c-e structures. Another objective is to model or simulate other descriptive systems, designed for tasks from diverse fields, using c-e structures. This involves the absence of formalization through the usage of functions between these systems. This encompasses formalisms such as reaction systems, rough sets, Petri nets, and CSP-like languages, as well as scenarios where temporal interdependence between actions is crucial.

The presentation of examples in this book predominantly takes the form of peculiar nets, accompanied by their algebraic and set-theoretic expressions. While the graphical representation is visually captivating, the book also provides a thorough exposition of the concepts and properties of the algebra of cause-effect structures. For those seeking a deeper understanding of the subject, a previous book published in the Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems series offers a comprehensive exposition of the concepts and properties of c-e structures. However, this book serves as a foundational resource, providing essential notions to facilitate comprehension of the examples presented.

Weight: 296g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030888152
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022