View source for Communicating finite-state machine

In [[computer science]], a '''communicating finite-state machine''' is a [[finite state machine]] labeled with "receive" and "send" operations over some alphabet of channels.

== Description ==

They were introduced by Brand and Zafiropulo, and can be used as a model of concurrent processes like Petri nets.

Communicating finite state machines are used frequently for modeling a communication protocol since they make it possible to detect major protocol design errors, including boundedness, deadlocks, and unspecified receptions.

The advantage of communicating finite state machines is that they make it possible to decide many properties in communication protocols, beyond the level of just detecting such properties. This advantage rules out the need for human assistance or restriction in generality.

== See also ==

* [[Petri net]]

== External links ==

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communicating_finite-state_machine Communicating finite-state machine] @ Wikipedia


[[Category:Computer science]]