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The complexity of bisimilarity-checking for one-counter processes. (English) Zbl 1044.68099
Summary: We study the problem of bisimilarity-checking between processes of one-counter automata and finite-state processes. We show that deciding weak bisimilarity between processes of one-counter nets (which are ‘restricted’ one-counter automata where the counter cannot be tested for zero) and finite-state processes is $$\mathbf{DP}$$-hard. In particular, this means that the problem is both $$\mathbf{NP}$$ and $$\mathbf{co-NP}$$ hard. The same technique is used to demonstrate $$\mathbf{co-NP}$$-hardness of strong bisimilarity between processes of one-counter nets. Then we design an algorithm which decides weak bisimilarity between processes of one-counter automata and finite-state processes in time which is polynomial for a large subclass of instances, giving a kind of characterization of all hard instances as a byproduct. Moreover, we show how to efficiently estimate the time which is needed to solve a given instance. Finally, we prove that the problem of strong bisimilarity between processes of one-counter automata and finite-state processes is in $$\mathbf P$$.
Reviewer: Reviewer (Berlin)

##### MSC:
 68Q45 Formal languages and automata 68Q85 Models and methods for concurrent and distributed computing (process algebras, bisimulation, transition nets, etc.)
##### Keywords:
One-counter automata; One-counter nets; Bisimilarity
Full Text:
##### References:
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