Parameterized Verification by Probabilistic Abstraction
Amir Pnueli5
and Lenore Zuck6 
| (5) |
Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel |
| (6) |
New York University, New York |
Abstract
The paper studies automatic verification of liveness properties with probability 1 over parameterized programs that include
probabilistic transitions, and proposes two novel approaches to the problem. The first approach is based on a Planner that occasionally determines the outcome of a finite sequence of “random”choices, while the other random choices are performed
non-deterministically.Using a Planner, a probabilistic protocol can be treated just like a non-probabilistic one and verified
as such. The second approach is based on γ-fairness, a notion of fairness that is sound and complete for verifying simple temporal properties (whose only temporal operators
are ⋄and □) over finite-state systems.The paper presents a symbolic model checker based on γ-fairness.We then show how the
network invariant approach can be adapted to accommodate probabilistic protocols. The utility of the Planner approach is demonstrated
on a probabilistic mutual exclusion protocol. The utility of the approach of γ-fairness with network invariants is demonstrated
on Lehman and Rabin's Courteous Philosophers algorithm.
This research was supported in part by ONR grant N00014-99-1-0131, and the John von Neumann Minerva Center for Verification
of Reactive Systems.
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