Partition refinement in real-time model checking

Many successful model checking tools for real-time systems are based on pure forward or backward reachability analysis. In this paper we present a real-time model checker that is based on a different approach, namely partition refinement. Partition refinement was applied before in real-time model checking, but never resulted, to our knowledge, in tools with competitive performance. Our partition refinement algorithm is inspired by currently existing ones for real-time systems, and operates on a product structure of a system specification and a property specification. A key aspects of our approach is that, unlike other real-time model checking approaches, we do not use a canonical representation like DBM's to manipulate regions. Instead we solely use the splitting history generated by the partition refinement algorithm. This paper presents our model checking technique, and reports on first experiences with a first implementation, comparing its performance to that of other model checkers.