Communication and Concurrency

Module code: CO3007

A concurrent system is a system consisting of several components such that each component acts concurrently with, and independently of, the other components, and the components can also communicate (or interact) with each other to synchronise their behaviour or to exchange information.

In recent decades there has been much interest in and demand for concurrent systems such as, for example, communication networks, air traffic controllers and industrial plant control systems. As concurrent systems are often very complex and essential in our everyday life, it is vital that they are highly reliable. Therefore, there is a growing need for formal description languages and software tools that can assist us in the design and construction of reliable concurrent systems.

In this module you will study the language CCS and learn how it can be used to describe, design and verify simple concurrent and communicating systems.