Generalized property directed reachability

Abstract

The IC3 algorithm was recently introduced for proving properties of finite state reactive systems. It has been applied very successfully to hardware model checking. We provide a specification of the algorithm using an abstract transition system and highlight its dual operation: model search and conflict resolution. We then generalize it along two dimensions. Along one dimension we address nonlinear fixed-point operators (push-down systems) and evaluate the algorithm on Boolean programs. In the second dimension we leverage proofs and models and generalize the method to Boolean constraints involving theories. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.