Most specification languages express only qualitative constraints. However, among two implementations that satisfy a given specification, one may be preferred to another. For example, if a specification asks that every request is followed by a response, one may prefer an implementation that generates responses quickly but does not generate unnecessary responses. We use quantitative properties t...

Considering both qualitative and quantitative aspects in the same modeling approach enhances coherency when analyzing concurrent system properties. Moreover, the impacts of changes related to functional and temporal features are generally better highlighted. In this paper, the authors present their approach to model and analyze behavioral and temporal properties of true concurrency systems. Com...

In this chapter, our goal is to provide a qualitative comparison of the specification methods introduced in this book. Our intention is not to rank methods in terms of quality or productivity. It would require a much larger sample of specifications, developed within a controlled experiment, to reach valid conclusions about quality or productivity. We have selected a set of attributes which desc...

Continuous and hybrid behaviors naturally arise from many dynamical systems. In this tutorial, we present state-of-the-art techniques for qualitative and quantitative reasoning about such behaviors. We introduce Signal Temporal Logic and Timed Regular Expressions as specification languages that we use to describe properties of hybrid systems. We then provide an overview of methods for (1) check...

The volume and diversity of data that is queriable via SPARQL and its increasing integration motivate the desire to query SPARQL information sources via the specification of preferred query outcomes. Such preference-based queries support the ordering of query outcomes with respect to a user’s measure of the quality of the response. In this position paper we argue for the incorporation of prefer...

We consider partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) with ω-regular conditions specified as parity objectives. The class of ω-regular languages extends regular languages to infinite strings and provides a robust specification language to express all properties used in verification, and parity objectives are canonical forms to express ω-regular conditions. The qualitative analysis...

We consider partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) with ω-regular conditions specified as parity objectives. The class of ω-regular languages extends regular languages to infinite strings and provides a robust specification language to express all properties used in verification, and parity objectives are canonical forms to express ω-regular conditions. The qualitative analysis...

Rational and funded management decisions require both quantitative and qualitative information from internal and external resources. New information system architectures like enterprise information portals provide a personalized single gateway to quantitative information, which is mainly provided by data warehouse and OLAP systems for analysis purposes, as well as to qualitative information, wh...