Finite-trace linear temporal logic: coinductive completeness

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Linear temporal logic (LTL) is suitable not only for infinite-trace systems, but also for finite-trace systems. In particular, LTL with finite-trace semantics is frequently used as a specification formalism in runtime verification, in artificial intelligence, and in business process modeling. The satisfiability of LTL with finite-trace semantics, a known PSPACE-complete problem, has been recently studied and both indirect and direct decision procedures have been proposed. However, the proof theory of LTL with finite traces is not that well understood. Specifically, complete proof systems of LTL with only infinite or with both infinite and finite traces have been proposed in the literature, but complete proof systems directly for LTL with only finite traces are missing. The only known results are indirect, by translation to other logics, e.g., infinite-trace LTL. This paper proposes a direct sound and complete proof system for finite-trace LTL. The axioms and proof rules are natural and expected, except for one rule of coinductive nature, reminiscent of the Gödel–Löb axiom.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)138-163
Number of pages26
JournalFormal Methods in System Design
Volume53
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2018

Keywords

  • Coinduction
  • Complete deduction
  • Linear temporal logic
  • Satisfiability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Software
  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • Hardware and Architecture

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