A time logic for hierarchical modelling of dynamic systems

The paper surveys hierarchical modelling, with emphasis on temporal hierarchical modelling, as used for reasoning from the structure and function of dynamic systems, and discusses the principles of hierarchical modelling implict in the applications. It is claimed that an extended interval logic allowing to express simulation knowledge as well as knowledge for backward reasoning is appropriate for modelling technical sysems. Basing on this logic a notion of temporal abstraction can be formalized. A general scheme for including several compatible abstraction levels in modelling is proposed.