Reference: Iwasaki, Y.; Vescovi, M.; & Fikes, R. A Causal Functional Representation Language with Behavior-Based Semantics. Knowledge Systems Laboratory, February, 1994.
Abstract: Understanding the design of a device requires both knowledge of the general physical principles that determine its behavior and knowledge of its intended functions. However, the majority of work in model-based reasoning has focused on using either one of these types of knowledge alone. In order to use both types of knowlege in understanding a device design, one must represent the functional knowledge in such a way that it has a clear interpretation in terms of observed behavior. We propose a new formalism, Causal Functinal Representation Language (CFRL), for representing device functions with well-defined semantics in terms of behavior. CFRL allows the specification of conditions that a behavior must satisfy, such as occurrence of temporal sequences of events and causal relations among them and the components. We have used CFRL as the basis for a functional verification program, which determines whether a behavior achieves an intended function.
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