Module Details
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title Reasoning about action and change
Code COMP355
Coordinator Dr CL Dixon
Computer Science
Cldixon@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2016-17 Level 6 FHEQ Second Semester 15

Aims
  • Give the student a feel for several formalisms that deal with change.
  • Show how logics can be used to specify and verify dynamic systems
  • Give students a deeper knowledge of the semantics of such systems
  • Develop awareness of the usual trade-off between expressivity and complexity of logical languages

        


Learning Outcomes

Provide formal specifications, using a logical language, of informal problem descriptions.

Verify simple properties of models.

Produce simple logical proofs.

Understand how temporal logics relate to each other.

Understand and use model checkers.

Develop a basic understanding of properties (such as "safety", "fairness" and "liveness") of systems and be able to formulate simple instances of them.

Syllabus
1   
  1. Introduction - logics, proof, verification (1 week)
  2. Linear Time Temporal Logic (LTL) (3 weeks).
  3. Branching Time Temporal Logic (CTL) (2 weeks)
  4. Dynamic logic (PDL) (2 weeks).
  5. Alternating Time Temporal Logic (ATL) (2 weeks)

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Lecture - Lectures

Tutorial - Sessions in which students are guided to solve practical exercises or small programming assignments.

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 30
Lectures
  10
Sessions in which students are guided to solve practical exercises or small programming assignments.
      40
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 110
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Unseen Written Exam  2.5 hours  Final exam  75  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Exam Notes (applying to all assessments) Two assessment tasks (coursework). These are not marked anonymously. 
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Coursework  36  About 5th and 9th week of modu  25  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Coursework assessment 

Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
Explanation of Reading List: