relation: http://eprints.imtlucca.it/145/
title: An Algebra of Hierarchical Graphs and its Application to Structural Encoding
creator: Bruni, Roberto
creator: Gadducci, Fabio
creator: Lluch-Lafuente, Alberto
subject: QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science
description: We define an algebraic theory of hierarchical graphs, whose axioms  characterise graph isomorphism: two terms are equated exactly when  they represent the same graph. Our algebra can be understood as  a high-level language for describing graphs with a node-sharing, embedding  structure, and it is then well suited for defining graphical  representations of software models where nesting and linking are key  aspects. In particular, we propose the use of our graph formalism as a  convenient way to describe configurations in process calculi equipped  with inherently hierarchical features such as sessions, locations, transactions,  membranes or ambients. The graph syntax can be seen as an  intermediate representation language, that facilitates the encodings of  algebraic specifications, since it provides primitives for nesting, name  restriction and parallel composition. In addition, proving soundness  and correctness of an encoding (i.e. proving that structurally equivalent  processes are mapped to isomorphic graphs) becomes easier as it can  be done by induction over the graph syntax.
publisher: "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iaşi
date: 2010
type: Article
type: PeerReviewed
format: application/pdf
language: en
identifier: http://eprints.imtlucca.it/145/1/bruni_gadducci_lluch-lafuente2010c.pdf
identifier:   Bruni, Roberto and Gadducci, Fabio and Lluch-Lafuente, Alberto  An Algebra of Hierarchical Graphs and its Application to Structural Encoding.  Scientific Annals in Computer Science, 20.  pp. 53-96.  ISSN 1843 - 8121      (2010)  
relation: http://www.infoiasi.ro/bin/Annals/Article?v=XX&a=2