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  • Textbook
  • © 2013

Time and Petri Nets

  • Introduces algorithms that allow the analysis of time-dependent Petri nets
  • Assumes an undergraduate level of mathematical logic
  • Based on an established graduate-level course taught in Germany and France, text is supported with exercises and examples in all chapters
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (5 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
  2. Introduction

    • Louchka Popova-Zeugmann
    Pages 1-6
  3. The Classic Petri Net

    • Louchka Popova-Zeugmann
    Pages 7-30
  4. Time Petri Nets

    • Louchka Popova-Zeugmann
    Pages 31-137
  5. Timed Petri Nets

    • Louchka Popova-Zeugmann
    Pages 139-172
  6. Petri Nets with Time Windows

    • Louchka Popova-Zeugmann
    Pages 173-190
  7. Back Matter

    Pages 191-209

About this book

At first glance the concepts of time and of Petri nets are quite contrary: while time determines the occurrences of events in a system, classic Petri nets consider their causal relationships and they represent events as concurrent systems. But if we take a closer look at how time and causality are intertwined we realize that there are many possible ways in which time and Petri nets interact. This book takes a closer look at three time-dependent Petri nets: Time Petri nets, Timed Petri nets, and Petri nets with time windows.

The author first explains classic Petri nets and their fundamental properties. Then the pivotal contribution of the book is the introduction of different algorithms that allow us to analyze time-dependent Petri nets. For Time Petri nets, the author presents an algorithm that proves the behavioral equivalence of a net where time is designed once with real and once with natural numbers, so we can reduce the state space and consider the integer states exclusively. For Timed Petri nets, the author introduces two time-dependent state equations, providing a sufficient condition for the non-reachability of states, and she also defines a local transformation for converting these nets into Time Petri nets. Finally, she shows that Petri nets with time-windows have the ability to realize every transition sequence fired in the net omitting time restrictions.

These classes of time-dependent Petri nets show that time alone does not change the power of a Petri net, in fact time may or may not be used to force firing. For Time Petri nets and Timed Petri nets we can say that they are Turing-powerful, and thus more powerful than classic Petri nets, because there is a compulsion to fire at some point in time. By contrast, Petri nets with time-windows have no compulsion to fire, their expressiveness power is less than that of Turing-machines.

This book derives from advanced lectures, and the text is supported throughout with examples and exercises. It is suitable for graduate courses in computer science, mathematics, engineering, and related disciplines, and as a reference for researchers. 

Authors and Affiliations

  • Institut für Informatik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Louchka Popova-Zeugmann

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access