Decidability for a temporal logic used in discrete-event system analysis

Abstract

The type of plant considered is one that can be modeled by a nondeterministic finite-state machine P. The regulator is a deterministic finite state machine R. The closed-loop system is formed by connecting P and R in a regulator configuration. Formulas in a propositional temporal language are used to describe the behavior of the closed-loop system. It is shown that there is a mechanical procedure which, for a given P and R, and a temporal formula Psi, will determine in a finite number of steps whether or not Psi must be true. This 'decidability' result could be proven using other known results on temporal logic. The proof given here shows that the behavior of the closed-loop system may safely be assumed to be ultimately periodic. The results are illustrated on two discrete-event system examples.