Modeling of asynchronous discrete-event systems as networks of input-output automata

A new approach for component-oriented modeling of asynchronous discrete-event systems is presented where input-output (I/O) automata are used for representing the components. Coupling signals are introduced to describe the interactions among the components. The resulting network of I/O-automata has a direct correspondence to the block diagram. By using the parallel composition rule known from standard automata modeling as an example, it is shown that the new model is applicable for at least the same class of asynchronous discrete-event systems as the known modeling formalisms.