CIS 650 -- Fall 1999

Semantics of Mobile Agents

In mobile computation, programs can migrate from one site to another, possibly taking with them references to other programs and data. The net effect is that a system's communication topology can change dynamically, potentially affecting important system properties such as security, data consistency, and fault tolerance. To understand the behavior of these systems, it is vital to have models that capture the essential features of mobility.

The pi-calculus provides a simple yet powerful foundation for studying the semantics of mobile computation. Its power arises from a uniform treatment of mobility: the movement of data inside a program is modeled in the same way as the movement of a program across a network. Possessing a small number of simple primitives, the pi-calculus provides a rich theory for expressing and understanding a variety of programming idioms, such as functional programming, object-oriented programming, and (of course) mobile computation. The pi-calculus and related calculi have been used as foundations for the design of high-level distributed programming languages and for the description and analysis of cryptographic protocols.

In this course, we will study the pi-calculus, its theory, and some of its applications, such as its use for describing and analyzing cryptographic protocols. Grades will be based on regular assignments and class participation, possibly including student-led discussions or informal presentations.

Course Details

  • CIS 650: Section U001, Reference Number 12202
  • Prereqs: CIS 623 or permission of instructor

  • Time: 3:00pm - 4:20pm, Mondays and Wednesdays
  • Place: CST 2-120
  • Susan Older
  • Office: CST 2-181
  • Email: sueo@ecs.syr.edu

    • Course Text

  • Communicating and Mobile Systems: the Pi-Calculus, by Robin Milner. Cambridge University Press, 1999.

    • Related Resources

  • Archive for mobile calculi
  • Kohei Honda's extremely annontated mobility bibliography/reading list (definitely worth a read)
    • More info to appear later
    Last modified: Tue 24 Aug 1999
    Susan Older / sueo@ecs.syr.edu