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 2003

[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.

Previous years: [Autumn 2002] [Autumn 2001] [Autumn 2000]

IMPORTANT: Tutorial 8 will be held on Nov. 14 in MAARI-C. It will include stochastic net analysis using a GNU tool Octave. The deadline for homework 3 has been extended by one week due to the unavailability of the most current version of Maria in the Computing Center. Similarly the deadlines for Homework 4 and Homework 5 have been shifted to Nov. 24 and Dec. 1 respectively.

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. (Recently, even the business community has shown interest in the application of formal methods to business process modelling and analysis.) 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.

The students taking the course should be familiar with the basic concepts of theoretical computer science and logic. Courses T-79.148 and T-79.144 are recommended (although not obligatory).


General Information

  • Lectures by Teemu Tynjälä: Monday 16-19, hall T2; The course starts on Sep. 15
  • Tutorials by Jukka Honkola: Friday 8-10, hall T2; Tutorials start on Sep. 26
  • 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. 15, 2003. From 1 PM to 4 PM in Hall T1.
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Lecture Notes

Lecture 1: Introduction to Parallel and Distributed Digital Systems PDF
Lecture 2: Place/Transition Nets PDF
Lecture 3: High Level Nets PDF
Lecture 4: Maria PDF
Lecture 5: LTL PDF
Lecture 6: Reachability analysis PDF
Lecture 7: Structural Analysis PDF
Lecture 8: Stochastic Analysis PDF
Lecture 9: Process Algebra PDF
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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

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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 in two sets - the first is given out on Oct.6 and the second set on Oct.21. The first deadline is 3 weeks hence, i.e. October 27. The other deadlines follow weekly. That is,

  • Homework 1 - deadline Oct. 27
  • Homework 2 - deadline Nov. 3
  • Homework 3 - deadline Nov. 17
  • Homework 4 - deadline Nov. 24
  • Homework 5 - deadline Dec. 1

Results

Results will be posted as they become available.

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Other Interesting Stuff

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Latest update: 23 July 2004.