Continuous Relative Timing

Abstract

In Chaps. 2 and 3, we introduced versions of ACP with relative timing and absolute timing in which time is measured on a discrete time scale. In this chapter and the next one, we will introduce versions of ACP with relative timing and absolute timing in which time is measured on a continuous time scale. The versions with time measured on a continuous time scale are generally considered to be somewhat less simple than the ones with time measured on a discrete time scale. Our main reason to consider measuring time on a continuous time scale is that there are applications of process algebra with timing where important properties are lost if the system involved is approximated by a discretization. In order to cover processes that are capable of performing an action at all points in a certain time interval, we introduce integration. Integration provides for alternative composition over a continuum of alternatives.