Template languages for fault monitoring of timed discrete event processes

Abstract

This paper introduces a new framework for modeling discrete event processes. This framework, called condition templates, allows the modeling of processes in which both single-instance and multiple-instance behaviors are exhibited concurrently. A single-instance behavior corresponds to a trace from a single finite-state process, and a multiple-instance behavior corresponds to the timed interleavings of an unspecified number of identical processes operating at the same time. The template framework allows the modeling of correct operation for systems consisting of concurrent mixtures of both single and multiple-instance behaviors. This representation can then be used in online fault monitoring for confirming the correct operation of a system. We compare the class of timed languages representable by template models with classes of timed languages from timed automata models. It is shown that templates are able to model timed languages corresponding to single and multiple-instance behaviors and combinations thereof. Templates can thus represent languages that could not be represented or monitored using timed automata alone.