Reversing Steps in Petri Nets

Abstract

In reversible computations one is interested in the development of mechanisms allowing to undo the effects of executed actions. The past research has been concerned mainly with reversing single actions. In this paper, we consider the problem of reversing the effect of the execution of groups of actions (steps). Using Petri nets as a system model, we introduce concepts related to this new scenario, generalising notions used in the single action case. We then present a number of properties which arise in the context of reversing of steps of executed transitions in place/transition nets. We obtain both positive and negative results, showing that dealing with steps makes reversibility more involved than in the sequential case. In particular, we demonstrate that there is a crucial difference between reversing steps which are sets and those which are true multisets.