A linear-time–branching-time spectrum for behavioral specification theories

Abstract

We propose behavioral specification theories for most equivalences in the linear-time–branching-time spectrum. Almost all previous work on specification theories focuses on bisimilarity, but there is a clear interest in specification theories for other preorders and equivalences. We show that specification theories for preorders cannot exist and develop a general scheme which allows us to define behavioral specification theories, based on disjunctive modal transition systems, for most equivalences in the linear-time–branching-time spectrum.