Abstract Reasoning about dynamic systems with a fine-grained temporal and numeric resolution presents significant challenges for logic-based approaches like Answer Set Programming (ASP). To address this, we introduce and elaborate upon a novel temporal and constraint-based extension of the logic of Here-and-There and its nonmonotonic equilibrium extension, representing, to the best of our knowledge, the first approach to nonmonotonic temporal reasoning with constraints specifically tailored for ASP. This expressive system is achieved by a synergistic combination of two foundational ASP extensions: the linear-time logic of Here-and-There, providing robust nonmonotonic temporal reasoning capabilities, and the logic of Here-and-There with constraints, enabling the direct integration and manipulation of numeric constraints, among others. This work establishes the foundational logical framework for tackling complex dynamic systems with high resolution within the ASP paradigm.

Abstract In temporal extensions of answer set programming (ASP) based on linear time, the behavior of dynamic systems is captured by sequences of states. While this representation reflects their relative order, it abstracts away the specific times associated with each state. However, timing constraints are important in many applications like, for instance, when planning and scheduling go hand in hand. We address this by developing a metric extension of linear-time temporal equilibrium logic, in which temporal operators are constrained by intervals over natural numbers. The resulting Metric Equilibrium Logic (MEL) provides the foundation of an ASP-based approach for specifying qualitative and quantitative dynamic constraints. To this end, we define a translation of metric formulas into monadic first-order formulas and give a correspondence between their models in MEL and Monadic Quantified Equilibrium Logic, respectively. Interestingly, our translation provides a blue print for implementation in terms of ASP modulo difference constraints.

Abstract In this survey, we present an overview on (Modal) Temporal Logic Programming in view of its application to Knowledge Representation and Declarative Problem Solving. The syntax of this extension of logic programs is the result of combining usual rules with temporal modal operators, as in Linear-time Temporal Logic (LTL). In the paper, we focus on the main recent results of the non-monotonic formalism called Temporal Equilibrium Logic (TEL) that is defined for the full syntax of LTL but involves a model selection criterion based on Equilibrium Logic, a well known logical characterization of Answer Set Programming (ASP). As a result, we obtain a proper extension of the stable models semantics for the general case of temporal formulas in the syntax of LTL. We recall the basic definitions for TEL and its monotonic basis, the temporal logic of Here-and-There (THT), and study the differences between finite and infinite trace length. We also provide further useful results, such as the translation into other formalisms like Quantified Equilibrium Logic and Second-order LTL, and some techniques for computing temporal stable models based on automata constructions. In the remainder of the paper, we focus on practical aspects, defining a syntactic fragment called (modal) temporal logic programs closer to ASP, and explaining how this has been exploited in the construction of the solver telingo, a temporal extension of the well-known ASP solver clingo that uses its incremental solving capabilities.

The rise of the energy impact of software systems requires the need to optimize and reduce their energy consumption. One area often neglected is the important role played by users to drive energy reductions. In this paper, we aim to reduce the energy impact of software by pushing end users to change their software usage behavior, through raising awareness and providing software green feedback. We present a comprehensive and detailed field study of the impact of green feedback on software usage by end users, and the efficiency of green feedback on software behavioral change, using a distributed architecture aimed at providing accurate green feedback in real time. We find that green feedback helps in raising awareness about software energy, and on the willingness of users to apply energy-efficient changes. However, we also find that users lack the knowledge and tools to properly adopt lasting and energy-effective behavioral changes.

Abstract The language of linear temporal logic can be interpreted on the class of dynamic topological systems, giving rise to the intuitionistic temporal logic ${\sf ITL}^{\sf c}_{\Diamond \forall }$ , recently shown to be decidable by Fernández-Duque. In this article we axiomatize this logic, some fragments, and prove completeness for several familiar spaces.

The logics CS4 and IS4 are intuitionistic variants of the modal logic S4. Whether the finite model property holds for each of these logics has been a long-standing open problem. In this paper we introduce two logics closely related to IS4: GS4, obtained by adding the Gödel-Dummett axiom to IS4, and S4I, obtained by reversing the roles of the modal and intuitionistic relations. We then prove that CS4, GS4, and S4I all enjoy the finite model property.

Abstract The importance of intuitionistic temporal logics in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence has become increasingly clear in the last few years. From the proof-theory point of view, intuitionistic temporal logics have made it possible to extend functional programming languages with new features via type theory, while from the semantics perspective, several logics for reasoning about dynamical systems and several semantics for logic programming have their roots in this framework. We consider several axiomatic systems for intuitionistic linear temporal logic and show that each of these systems is sound for a class of structures based either on Kripke frames or on dynamic topological systems. We provide two distinct interpretations of “henceforth”, both of which are natural intuitionistic variants of the classical one. We completely establish the order relation between the semantically defined logics based on both interpretations of “henceforth” and, using our soundness results, show that the axiomatically defined logics enjoy the same order relations.

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We consider intuitionistic variants of linear temporal logic with “next,” “until,” and “release” based on expanding posets : partial orders equipped with an order-preserving transition function. This class of structures gives rise to a logic that we denote ITL e , and by imposing additional constraints, we obtain the logics ITL p of persistent posets and ITL ht of here-and-there temporal logic, both of which have been considered in the literature. We prove that ITL e has the effective finite model property and hence is decidable, while ITL p does not have the finite model property. We also introduce notions of bounded bisimulations for these logics and use them to show that the “until” and “release” operators are not definable in terms of each other, even over the class of persistent posets.

Abstract We elaborate upon the theoretical foundations of a metric temporal extension of Answer Set Programming. In analogy to previous extensions of ASP with constructs from Linear Temporal and Dynamic Logic, we accomplish this in the setting of the logic of Here-and-There and its non-monotonic extension, called Equilibrium Logic. More precisely, we develop our logic on the same semantic underpinnings as its predecessors and thus use a simple time domain of bounded time steps. This allows us to compare all variants in a uniform framework and ultimately combine them in a common implementation.

Research in Computational Narratives has evidenced the need to provide formal models of narratives integrating action representation together with temporal and causal constraints. Adopting an adequate formalization for narrative actions is critical to the development of generative or interactive systems capable of telling stories whilst ensuring narrative coherence, or dynamic adaptation to user interaction. It may also allow to verify properties of narratives at design time. In this paper, we discuss the issues of interactive story design, verification, and piloting for a specific genre of industrial application, in the field of interactive entertainment: in the games we consider, teams of participants in a Virtual Reality application are guided in real time through a narrative experience by a human storyteller. Like in an escape game, the interactive experience is timed: it should be long enough to provide satisfaction to the players, but come to a conclusion before the game session is over in order to provide closure and a sense of achievement to them. We describe how we integrate narrative time in the story design and use it to the verification of temporal properties of scenarios, building on previous work using Linear Logic and Petri Nets.

We introduce the logic ITL^e, an intuitionistic temporal logic based on structures (W,R,S), where R is used to interpret intuitionistic implication and S is an R-monotone function used to interpret temporal modalities. Our main result is that the satisfiability and validity problems for ITL^e are decidable. We prove this by showing that the logic enjoys the strong finite model property. In contrast, we also consider a 'persistent' version of the logic, ITL^p, whose models are similar to Cartesian products. We prove that, unlike ITL^e, ITL^p does not have the finite model property.

Abstract In this note, we consider the problem of introducing variables in temporal logic programs under the formalism of Temporal Equilibrium Logic, an extension of Answer Set Programming for dealing with linear-time modal operators. To this aim, we provide a definition of a first-order version of Temporal Equilibrium Logic that shares the syntax of first-order Linear-time Temporal Logic but has different semantics, selecting some Linear-time Temporal Logic models we call temporal stable models. Then, we consider a subclass of theories (called splittable temporal logic programs) that are close to usual logic programs but allowing a restricted use of temporal operators. In this setting, we provide a syntactic definition of safe variables that suffices to show the property of domain independence – that is, addition of arbitrary elements in the universe does not vary the set of temporal stable models. Finally, we present a method for computing the derivable facts by constructing a non-temporal logic program with variables that is fed to a standard Answer Set Programming grounder. The information provided by the grounder is then used to generate a subset of ground temporal rules which is equivalent to (and generally smaller than) the full program instantiation.

Abstract This paper studies the relation between two recent extensions of propositional Equilibrium Logic, a well-known logical characterisation of Answer Set Programming. In particular, we show how Temporal Equilibrium Logic, which introduces modal operators as those typically handled in Linear-Time Temporal Logic (LTL), can be encoded into Infinitary Equilibrium Logic, a recent formalisation that allows the use of infinite conjunctions and disjunctions. We prove the correctness of this encoding and, as an application, we further use it to show that the semantics of the temporal logic programming formalism called TEMPLOG is subsumed by Temporal Equilibrium Logic.

We used cellular automata (CA) for the modeling of the temporal folding of proteins. Unlike the focus of the vast research already done on the direct prediction of the final folded conformations, we will model the temporal and dynamic folding process. The CA model defines how the amino acids interact through time to obtain a folded conformation. We employed the TIP model to represent the protein conformations in a lattice, we extended the classical CA models using artificial neural networks for their implementation, and we used evolutionary computing to automatically obtain the models by means of Differential Evolution. Moreover, the modeling of the folding provides the final protein conformation.