Conditional and iterative structures using a homogeneous static dataflow graph model

Abstract

This paper presents a static dataflow graph model, where only data tokens are allowed to flow. The proposed model is formally described, and the dataflow graph is obtained by employing only actors with homogeneous I/O conditions. Each actor, which executes an elemental operation, is characterized by having one output and two input arcs. Even though no control tokens are allowed, so that no T-gate, merge, and switch actors are present in this model, it is always possible to represent conditional and iterative structures whose behavior is well-behaved. As homogeneous I/O conditions are a severe restriction to represent the flow of a computation and the token flow in such dataflow graphs is completely asynchronous, proof is given to guarantee their determinacy.<>