Computing Probabilistic Bisimilarity Distances via Policy Iteration
summary
Defines probabilistic bisimilarity distance as the least fixed‑point Kantorovich/earth‑mover metric via coupling vertices, shows it reduces to a finite optimization and maps each state‑pair to a simple stochastic game so distance equals the game value. Gives three concrete algorithms: first‑order real formulas (intractable), a polynomial LP/min‑cost‑flow approach (theoretically polytime but slow in practice), and simple policy iteration which is exponential worst‑case yet runs in seconds on examples; uses DNE to verify loop invariants in a constructive implementation.
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chapters (17)
- 0:00Intro
- 0:28Behavioural Equivalences
- 1:02Model of probabilistic system
- 1:30Transitions
- 1:58Probabilistic bisimulation
- 3:41Coupling
- 5:34Alternative characterization of lifting
- 9:40Behavioural pseudometric
- 15:32Quantitative generalization of probabilistic bisimilarity
- 16:38Kantorovich metric
- 17:52Algorithm to compute the bisimilarity distances
- 19:56Simple stochastic game (SSG)
- 21:47Values of a SSG
- 23:41Correctness of simple policy iteration
- 24:33BLM algorithm is exponential
- 28:11Conclusion
- 29:27Related and future work
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