Deliverable D2b

Integral Specification of Functional Properties and Performance Evaluation by Stochastic Process Algebra

• Introduction to the deliverable
• Contents of the deliverable

Introduction to Deliverable D2b

With this deliverable we give a broad overview on the Stochastic Process Algebra (SPA) field by means of selected papers. The figure shows the context of SPA.

Systems are described by means of a language. From this description one can produce the state space (left branch) and apply evaluation algorithms to it (as described in D2b-1). This way is implemented in the TIPP tool (D2b-2).

Another way for the derivation of performance measures is to apply smart analytical solution algorithms to the process description as described in D15-3 (right branch of the figure). The main scientific effort in the latter field lies in the definition of suitable subclasses of all process descriptions which allow the application of the solution methods.

In D2b-4 and D2b-5 cover extensions of our standard SPA towards immediate and probabilistic activities. The clue of both approaches is that elimination of these activities - in order to obtain a Markov chain - is done by means of equivalence notions.

Contents of the Deliverable

D2b-1

Stochastic Process Algebras - Constructive Specification Techniques Integrating Functional, Performance and Dependability Aspects, N. Götz, H. Hermanns, U. Herzog, V. Mertsiotakis and M. Rettelbach (included in the QMIPS book).

D2b-2

A Stochastic Process Algebra Based Modelling Tool, H. Hermanns and V. Mertsiotakis (presented at the UK Performance Engeneering Workshop 1995 and enclosed).

D2b-3

Exploiting Quasi-Reversible Structures to Find Product Form Solutions in Markovian Process Algebra Models, P. Harrison and J. Hillston (presented at the Workshop on Process Algebras and Performance Modelling 1995 PAPM'95 and enclosed). (Front page)

D2b-4

Formal Characterisation of Immediate Actions in SPA with Nondeterministic Branching, H. Hermanns, M. Rettelbach and T. Weiß(presented at PAPM'95 and enclosed).

D2b-5

Probabilistic Branching in Markovian Process Algebras, M. Rettelbach (presented at PAPM'95 and enclosed).