This course introduces methods to utilize abstraction and partial order methods to reduce the complexity of their systems models. The equivalences introduced are based upon bisimulation and simulation relations. These concepts allow one to prove that a model is an abstraction (or simplification) of another model of the same system. Abstraction reduces the complexity of the system model while preserving the ability to correctly verify properties of the system. This course will also introduce the partial order method to further reduce model complexity during verification by enabling the state space exploration to not need to consider all possible interleavings of concurrent events. This approach often provides substantial reductions in the state space of the model being verified.
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Explain and analyze equivalences of transition system models based on bisimulation
Explain and compare equivalences of transition system models based on simulation relations
Apply bisimulation and simulation relations to construct and justify abstractions of transition systems
Analyze independence of concurrent actions and apply this information to perform partial order reductions
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
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December 2025
12 assignments
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There are 4 modules in this course
This module introduces bisimulation equivalences, its relationship to model checking properties, and algorithms for verifying these equivalences.
What's included
12 videos4 readings3 assignments
This module introduces simulations relations and equivalences, their relationship to model checking properties, and algorithms for checking them.
What's included
10 videos3 readings3 assignments
This module introduces stutter linear-time relations, stutter bisimulation, and algorithms for checking them.
What's included
9 videos3 readings3 assignments
This module introduces partial order reductions that aovid interleaving independent actions, as well as algorithms for performing partial order reduction.
What's included
9 videos3 readings3 assignments
Instructor
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