On Some Equivalence Relations for Probabilistic Processes1

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate several equivalence relations for probabilistic labeled transition systems: bisimulation equivalence, readiness equivalence, failure equivalence, trace equivalence, maximal trace equivalence and finite trace equivalence. We formally prove the inclusions (equalities) among these equivalences. We also show that readiness, failure, trace, maximum trace and finite trace equivalences for finite probabilistic labeled transition systems are decidable in polynomial time. This should be contrasted with the PSPACE completeness of the same equivalences for classical labeled transition systems. Moreover, we derive an efficient polynomial time algorithm for deciding bisimulation equivalence for finite probabilistic labeled transition systems. The special case of initiated probabilistic transition systems will be considered. We show that the isomorphism problem for finite initiated labeled probabilistic transition systems is NC(1) equivalent to graph isomorphism.