TCS / Studies / T-79.231 Parallel and Distributed Digital Systems
Helsinki University of Technology, Laboratory for Theoretical Computer Science

T-79.231 Parallel and Distributed Digital Systems (3 cr)

Autumn 2002

[General Information] [Lectures] [Tutorials] [Home assignments] [Other Interesting Stuff] [TOPI]

This course will be lectured next time in Autumn 2003. This course is the English version of T-79.179, which is lectured every Spring.

This is a course on formal methods suitable for describing concurrent behaviour.

Concurrent and distributed systems play a significant role in the implementation of computer based applications. E.g. the Internet, telecommunications protocols, client/server systems, embedded systems, and process control are application domains where an understanding of concurrent or distributed systems and their underlying phenomena are needed. Some of the problems encountered are the issues of timing and synchronization; when solving these problems we benefit from a rigorous approach, formal methods, and efficient software tools.

The goal of the course is to give the student an introduction to the methods and formalisms used in the modelling and analysis of parallel and distributed systems. The lectures cover the theory and use of Petri nets, foundations of temporal logics, and process algebra. To practise modelling and applications of theory there is tutored practical work (laskuharjoitus) and compulsory homework.

General Information

  • Lectures by Teemu Tynjälä: Monday 16-19, hall T2; The course starts on Sep. 16
  • Tutorials by Jukka Honkola: Monday 8-10, hall J of the main building; Tutorials start on Sep. 23.
  • Course material:
    Lecture notes.
  • In order to pass the course one has to
    • pass the home assignments (at least 20 points out of 50 required)
    • pass the exam (with a grade greater than 0)
  • Newsgroup: opinnot.tik.rhj
  • Next exams: Dec. 16, 2002. From 1 PM to 4 PM in Hall T1.
  • Results for the Dec. 12 Exam. The final mark will still include homework points
Back to menu.

Lecture Notes

(In Postscript format)
Lecture1: Introduction to Parallel and Distributed Digital Systems
Lecture2: Place/Transition Nets
Lecture3: High Level Nets
Lecture4: Maria
Lecture5: LTL - 4 slides per page Lecture5: LTL - 1 slide per page
Lecture6: Reachability analysis
Lecture7: Structural Analysis
Lecture8: Stochastic Analysis
Lecture9: Process Algebras
Back to menu.
Additional material:
  • Tadao Murata: Petri Nets: Properties, Analysis and Applications
  • Robin Milner: Communication and Concurrency,
  • David Walker: Introduction to a Calculus of Communicating Systems.

Tutorial exercises and solutions

(in Postscript format) Back to menu.

Home Assignments

There are 5 compulsory home assignments each worth 10 points. A minimum of 20 points is required to pass the course. Bonus points will be given to those people who do well in the assignments. The formula for the extra points will be given later.

Schedule

The homeworks will be handed out on Oct.14. The first deadline is 3 weeks hence, i.e. November 4. The other deadlines follow weekly. That is,

Homework 1 - deadline Nov. 4
Homework 2 - deadline Nov. 11
Homework 3 - deadline Nov. 18
Homework 4 - deadline Nov. 25
Homework 5 - deadline Dec. 2

Results

Results will be posted as they become available.

Back to menu.

Other Interesting Stuff

Back to menu.
[TCS main] [Contact Info] [Personnel] [Research] [Publications] [Software] [Studies] [News Archive] [Links]
Latest update: 26 August 2003.