Knowledge-Based Synthesis of Distributed Systems Using Event Structures

Abstract. To produce a program guaranteed to satisfy a given specification one can synthesize it from a formal constructive proof that a computation satisfying that specification exists. This process is particularly effective if the specifications are written in a high-level language that makes it easy for designers to specify their goals. We consider a high-level specification language that results from adding knowledge to a fragment of Nuprl specifically tailored for specifying distributed protocols, called event theory. We then show how high-level knowledge-based programs can be synthesized from the knowledge-based specifications using a proof development system such as Nuprl. Methods of Halpern and Zuck [15] then apply to convert these knowledge-based protocols to ordinary protocols. These methods can be expressed as heuristic transformation tactics in Nuprl.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2004
• Where: LPAR
• Authors: Mark Bickford, Robert L. Constable, Joseph Y. Halpern, Sabina Petride
• Keywords: Formal Constructive Proof, Heuristic Transformation Tactics, Knowledge-based Protocols, LPAR 2004