Representing cellular automata using Specification and Description Language

In this paper we show how to use Specification and Description Language (SDL) to represent cellular automata models. To achieve that we use a generalization of the common cellular automata, named m:n-CA, allowing the definition of multiple layers in a single cellular automata. Also we add some extension to SDL language to simplify the representation of these automata. Thanks SDL and m:n-CA the behavior of the cellular automata model can be defined in a graphical way allowing the complete and unambiguous description of the simulation model that uses it. SDL is a modern object oriented formalism that allows the definition of distributed systems. It has focused on the modeling of reactive, state/event driven systems, and has been standardized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in the Z.100. In our approximation the SDL representation of the model (a Microsoft Visio® diagram) can be executed. This implies that since is not needed to perform any implementation, the verification process is simplified.