Bigraphs are graphs whose nodes may be nested, representing locality, independently of the edges connecting them. They may be equipped with reaction rules, forming a bigraphical reactive system (Brs) in which bigraphs can reconfigure themselves. Following an earlier paper describing link graphs, a constituent of bigraphs, this paper is a devoted to pure bigraphs, which in turn underlie various more refined forms. Elsewhere it is shown that behavioural analysis for Petri nets, π-calculus and mobile ambients can all be recovered in the uniform framework of bigraphs. The paper first develops the dynamic theory of an abstract structure, a wide reactive system (Wrs), of which a Brs is an instance. In this context, labelled transitions are defined in such a way that the induced bisimilarity is a congruence. This work is then specialised to Brss, whose graphical structure allows many refinements of the theory. The latter part of the paper emphasizes bigraphical theory that is relevant to the treatment of dynamics via labelled transitions. As a running example, the theory is applied to finite pure CCS, whose resulting transition system and bisimilarity are analysed in detail. The paper also mentions briefly the use of bigraphs to model pervasive computing and

This paper axiomatises the structure of bigraphs, and proves that the resulting theory is complete. Bigraphs are graphs with double structure, representing locality and connectivity. They have been shown to represent dynamic theories for the #-calculus, mobile ambients and Petri nets, in a way that is faithful to each of those models of discrete behaviour. While the main purpose of bigraphs is to understand mobile systems, a prerequisite for this understanding is a well-behaved theory of the structure of states in such systems. The algebra of bigraph structure is surprisingly simple, as the paper demonstrates; this is because bigraphs treat locality and connectivity orthogonally

Abstract. Bigraphs are emerging as an interesting model for concurrent calculi, like CCS, pi-calculus, and Petri nets. Bigraphs are built orthogonally on two structures: a hierarchical place graph for locations and a link (hyper-)graph for connections. With the aim of describing bigraphical structures, we introduce a general framework for logics whose terms represent arrows in monoidal categories. We then instantiate the framework to bigraphical structures and obtain a logic that is a natural composition of a place graph logic and a link graph logic. We explore the concepts of separation and sharing in these logics and we prove that they generalise some known spatial logics for trees, graphs and tree contexts. 1

We analyze the matching problem for bigraphs. In particular, we present a sound and complete inductive characterization of matching of binding bigraphs. Our results pave the way for a provably correct matching algorithm, as needed for an implementation of bigraphical reactive systems.

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Bigraphs have been introduced with the aim to provide a topographical meta-model for mobile, distributed agents that can manipulate their own communication links and nested locations. In this paper we examine a presentation of type systems on bigraphical systems using the notion of sorting. We focus our attention on the typed polyadic π-calculus with capability types à la Pierce and Sangiorgi, which we represent using a novel kind of link sorting called subsorting. Using the theory of relative pushouts we derive a labelled transition system which yield a coinductive characterisation of a behavioural congruence for the calculus. The results obtained in this paper constitute a promising foundation for the presentation of various type systems for the (polyadic) π-calculus as sortings in the setting of bigraphs.

I investigate and develop theory for term languages for a variant of bigraphs with binding, thus building the formal foundation for a (term-based) tool for bigraphical reactive systems. I present two main results (developed with co-authors). First, I give an axiomatization of structural congruence (graph equivalence) for binding bigraphs. Along the way, I devise a term language for binding bigraphs and prove a series of normal form theorems for binding bigraphs. Second, using these results, I give a complete inductive characterization of matching in bigraphs — essentially, for describing when and where a bigraphical reaction rule can be applied. I include an introduction to the goals of my Ph.D. project and explain how it relates to the goals of the BPL project. Moreover, I outline a number of future challenges and include a litterature study for future work.

This paper discusses a novel implementation of a workflow engine that supports service-based applications. The applications are defined according to the GAT model, which is an event-based programming model using conditional guards to determine when both normal and exception-handling activities are to be executed. We propose implementation techniques for key features of GAT. These include implementing control flow based on the evaluation of guards, the management and distribution of events, and enforcing atomicity across the evaluation of guards and the execution of the corresponding activities. We have built an engine following this approach which uses available technologies to support translating GAT models into executable applications. 1.

We axiomatize the congruence relation for binding bigraphs and prove that the generated theory is complete. In doing so, we define a normal form for binding bigraphs, and prove that it is unique up to certain isomorphisms. Our work builds on Milner’s axioms for pure bigraphs. We have extended the set of axioms with five new axioms concerned with binding, and we have altered some of Milner’s axioms for ions, because ions in binding bigraphs have names on both their inner and outer faces. The resulting theory is a conservative extension of Milner’s for pure bigraphs.

Informatics bridges Turing-computation and interactive behaviour; examples of the latter include ubiquitous/pervasive and biological systems. But how does a model of computation fit within a model of less disciplined informatic behaviour? This paper offers a precise treatment of that relationship, identifying a class of calculational bigraphical reactive systems. We show how such a system contain a confluent calculation sub-model, and how calculation only ever enables, never prevents, informatic behaviour of the larger model. We submit these results as a modest but essential beginning of a unified informatic theory.