Markov Reward Model Checker (MRMC)

The Markov Reward Model Checker (MRMC)[1] is a model checker for discrete-time and continuous-time Markov reward models. It supports reward extensions of PCTL and CSL (PRCTL and CSRL), and allows for the automated verification of properties concerning long-run and instantaneous rewards as well as cumulative rewards. In particular, it supports to check the reachability of a set of goal states (by only visiting legal states before) under a time and an accumulated reward constraint.

MRMC has been developed by the Formal Methods & Tools (FMT) group at the University of Twente, The Netherlands and the Software Modeling and Verification (MOVES) group at RWTH Aachen University, Germany under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Ir. Joost-Pieter Katoen.

An example snapshot of the tool usage is provided on the right.

Additional recommended knowledge

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Daily Visual Balance Check

Guide to balance cleaning: 8 simple steps

MRMC details

MRMC is a command-line tool written in the C programming language and based on a sparse matrix representation. This allows MRMC to be small and fast. The empirical study of MRMC performance in comparison to other model checkers such as PRISM, ETMCC, Vesta, and Ymer is available here.

MRMC is supplied for Linux, Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows (compilable under Cygwin) platforms. The tool is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL).

MRMC expects four input files:

1. .tra-file describing the probability or rate matrix,
2. .lab-file indicating the state-labeling with atomic propositions,
3. .rew-file specifying the state reward structure,
4. .rewi-file specifying the impulse reward structure.

which have a simple text format. For CSL and PCTL verification, the latter two files may be omitted.

The properties of interest, specified in PCTL, CSL, PRCTL or CSRL are accepted through the command-prompt interface of the tool.

A sketch of the tool architecture is provided on the right.

ETMCC as a predecessor

MRMC is a successor of a well known tool called ETMCC (Erlangen-Twente Markov Chain Checker). Which is a prototype implementation of a model checker for continuous-time Markov chains. ETMCC supports verification techniques to check CSL and aCSL (action based CSL) properties. For details on ETMCC consider reading HermansKMS_IJSTTT03.

Implemented algorithms

Among others, MRMC supports:

1. Two algorithms for time- and reward bounded until-formulae. One is based on discretization TijmsV_99, the other on uniformization and path truncation QureshiS_ISFTC96. This includes state- and impulse rewards. For details on these algorithms we refer to BaierHHK_ICALP00, ClothKKP_DSN05, HaverkortCHKB_DSN02.
2. Safe on-the-fly steady-state detection for time-bounded reachability (see time bounded until operator of CSL logic).
3. Bisimulation minimisation for PCTL, CSL, PRCTL and CSRL logics, for the latter two in case without impulse rewards.

Getting MRMC models

MRMC models can be generated from Prism models, using the command line Prism starting from the version 3.0

The required options of "prism" are listed here and were obtained by running "prism -help":

-exportmrmc .................... When exporting matrices/vectors/labels, use MRMC format

-exportlabels ........... Export the list of labels and satisfying states to a file

-exporttrans ............ Export the transition matrix to a file

-exportstaterewards ..... Export the state rewards vector to a file

-exporttransrewards ...... Export the transition rewards matrix to a file

NOTE: The "transition rewards" are what we refer to as "impulse rewards".

A typical example of generating MRMC model from the Prism model would be:

  $ prism model.sm model.csl -exportmrmc -exportlabels model.lab -exporttrans model.tra -exportstaterewards model.rew -exporttransrewards model.rewi

The resulting model.tra, model.lab, model.rew and model.rewi files can be immediately consumed by MRMC.

Some more information on generating MRMC models using Prism can be found here.

See also

• Model checking