Mathematical transformation of Petri-nets for development of parallel/distributed programs

A novel approach for visually specifying parallel/distributed software using extended Petri-nets (PNS) is investigated. The approach is demonstrated to be useful in the specification of decision-making activities that control distributed computing systems. PNs are employed because of their highly visual nature that can give insight into the nature of the controller of such a system and because of their well-known analytical properties. In order to increase the expressive power of PNs, the extension of transition enabling functions is used. The main focus is a set of automatic transformations derived to transform such an extended net into a basic PN. Then, well-known analytical methods can be used to investigate characteristic properties of the system and validate correct operation. A graphical programming tool (XPAT) has been built to automate the visual programming process as well as the transformations