Speedup of OWCTY Model Checking Algorithm Using Strongly Connected Components

Abstract

Model checking is an exhaustive search method of verification. Automata-based LTL model checking is one of the methods to solve accepting cycle search problems. Model checking is prone to state-space explosion, and we may expect that parallel processing would be a promising approach. However, the optimal sequential algorithm is based on post-order depth-first seach and is difficult to parallelize. Alternative parallel algorithms have been proposed, and OWCTY_{_}reversed is one of them. OWCTY_{_}reversed is known to be a stable and fast algorithm for models that accept some words, but it does not use the characteristics of the automata used in LTL model checking. We propose a new algorithm named SCC-OWCTY that exploits the SCCs (strongly connected components) of property automata. The algorithm removes states that are judged not to form accepting cycles faster than OWCTY_{_}reversed. We experimented and compared the two algorithms using DiVinE, and confirmed improvements both in performance and scalability.