On Modelling Real-Time Mobile Processes

Abstract

This paper introduces an algebra for modeling the real-time aspect of systems in a mobile environment. Our model makes use of many familiar concepts and properties from previous works on static, real-time process algebra, and incorporates these into Milner's dynamic π-calculus. The extended algebra allows both time values as well as names to be transmitted between processes, thereby allowing the modeling of, and reasoning about, dynamic temporal behaviour and dynamic configurations of systems. Further, conventional labeled transition system (LTS) semantics are found to be inadequately expressive for use with our algebra. We therefore propose a timed labeled transition system (TLTS) semantics. Finally, we illustrate the modeling power of our algebra with a comprehensive but simple example of a mobile streaming video player.