Observability Decomposition of Boolean Control Networks

This article investigates the observability decomposition of Boolean control networks (BCNs) under the algebraic frame based on the semitensor product of matrices. First, the definition for the observability decomposition of BCNs is proposed, which is consistent with the observability decomposition of traditional linear control systems. Then, by using the vertex partition method, a necessary and sufficient vertex partition condition for the observability decomposition of BCNs is proposed. Next, an algorithm is designed for the analysis and realization of observability decomposition. Finally, a biological example and a counterexample are analyzed to illustrate the obtained results.