Oct 11 2007
Jiwei’s PhD Thesis
A Computational Model for Logic Programming Languages And Its Supporting Architecture
Jiwei Wang, PhD.
University of Essex
Colchester, England
1991
Abstract
As progress in technology leads towards cheaper computing power and memory space, it becomes appropriate to review the basic assumptions of existing computational models in logic programming. The research carried out in this thesis is an attempt to seek alternative computational models for logic languages, aiming at purely declarative programming and yet maintaining high efficiency by means of effectively utilizing multiple-processor systems.
Our proposed computational model uses the idea of separating unification from inference - a widely proposed idea in the field of Automatic Theorem Proving. Several studies have shown that this strategy can enhance the efficiency of theorem proving systems considerably.
Following this idea, a new computational model for logic languages, the Wivenhoe model, is developed. This is based on the rewriting formalism of Chang and Slagle, instead of on Resolution. The rewriting formalism is specialised to Horn clauses and enhanced with certain control mechanisms. It is shown that the Wivenhoe model has good semantical properties and tight control upon inference resulting in a strong termination power. It is also shown that the Wivenhoe model is compatible with existing logic programming techniques.
More importantly, the Wivenhoe model organises computational activity in a modular and uniform way which provides opportunities for parallel implementation and novel hardware support. It is shown that there can be a substantial gain on parallel unification in the Wivenhoe model. From a theoretical analysis and from the results of practical simulations, it appears that the Wivenhoe model forms a reasonable basis for high-performance implementations.
The conclusion is that the Wivenhoe model is a promising alternative to the existing computational models for logic languages.
Downloading the dissertation in PDF format.
WivenhoeModel-JiweiWang-PhD-A4.pdf ( zipped )
WivenhoeModel-JiweiWang-PhD-A4-Double.pdf ( zipped )
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