Formal Model Research Group

This group discusses formal languages and their models, such as automata, grammars and systems based upon them. It pays a special attention to the regulation of these models so they capture various context dependencies in a clear and precise way. The group also studies how to apply the formal models under investigation in various computer science areas, such as compilers any bioinformatics.

fotoskupiny2021
Group Photo from 2021 (from the left: Dušan Kolář, Radim Kocman, Dominika Klobučníková, Alexandr Meduna, Zbyněk Křivka, Dominika Regéciová, Martin Tomko, Tomáš Kožár)

Research interests

Theoretical Basis of Information Systems
Formal Languages and Their Models
Specification and Translation of Languages
Applications of Formal Models
Reverse Engineering and Decompilation

Current research topics

The group focuses on the basic research in the theory of formal languages and compilation. Considering formal language theory, we usually study generative power of regulated models (eg. scaterred context grammars) or of the whole systems of models (eg. grammar systems). Further, we are interested in scattered information processing models such as jumping automata and grammars.
From the practical areas, we investigate the automation of syntax and semantic analysis in compilers.

Significant results

Meduna Alexander, Kozar Tomas: Automata: Theory, Trends, and Applications, World Scientific Publishing Company, 2023, ISBN: 978-9811278129
Meduna Alexander, Krivka Zbynek: Jumping Computation Updating Automata and Grammars for Discontinuous Information Processing, CRC Press, 2024, ISBN 9780367634797
Meduna Alexander, Horáček Petr, Tomko Martin: Handbook of Mathematical Models for Languages and Computation. Stevenage, United Kingdom: The Institution of Engineering and Technology, 2020. ISBN 978-1-78561-659-4
Meduna Alexander, Soukup Ondřej: Modern Language Models and Computation: Theory with Applications. New York: Springer US, 2017. ISBN 978-3-319-63099-1
Meduna Alexander, Zemek Petr: Regulated Grammars and Automata, New York, US, Springer, 2014, 694 p., ISBN 978-1-4939-0368-9
Meduna Alexander: Formal Languages and Computation, New York, US, Taylor & Francis, 2014, 315 p., ISBN 978-1-4665-1345-7
Meduna Alexander, Zemek Petr: Jumping Finite Automata. International Journal of Foundations of Computer Science. 2012, 23(7), ISSN 0129-0541
Meduna Alexander, Techet Jiří: Scattered Context Grammars and their Applications, WIT Press, UK, GB, WIT, 2010, 199 p., ISBN 978-1-84564-426-0
Meduna Alexander: Elements of Compiler Design, New York, US, Taylor & Francis, 2008, 304 p., ISBN 978-1-4200-6323-3
Křivka Zbyněk: Rewriting Systems with Restricted Configurations, Brno, CZ, FIT VUT, 2008, 131 p., ISBN 978-80-214-3722-7
Meduna Alexander, Švec Martin: Grammars with Context Conditions and Their Applications, Wiley, New York, US, WILEY, 2005, 1-225 p., ISBN 0-471-71831-9
Meduna Alexander: Automata and Languages: Theory and Applications, London, GB, Springer, 2000, 892 p., ISBN 1-85233-074-0

Cooperation

The members of this group can offer consultations in the design, description and processing of mathematically oriented languages (including programming and domain-specific languages).

Current Cooperations:

The subteam under the supervision of dr. Kolář cooperates with Avast (former AVG Technologies) in research of reverse engineering and decompilation.

Events, Seminars

All those interested in theoretical computer science and not only in it are cordially invited to a seminar of our research group.
On the website of the international journal IJFCS in 2016/2017 the article "Meduna, A., Soukup, O.: Simple Matrix Grammars and Their Leftmost Variants" was among the most read and the article "Meduna, A., Zemek, P.: Jumping Finite Automata" among the most cited.
On December 3, 2012 Prof. Meduna received an honorary mention at the Siemens Prize in the category of "Best Teacher".

Contact

Brno University of Technology
Faculty of Information Technology
Department of Information Systems
Božetěchova 2
612 00 Brno, Czech Republic

Phone: +420 54114-1232
E-mail: meduna@fit.vutbr.cz

Information

prof. Alexander Meduna
Brno University of Technology
Faculty of Information Technology
Formal Model Research Group
Božetěchova 2
612 00 Brno, Czech Republic

Phone: +420 54114-1232
E-mail: meduna@fit.vutbr.cz

Important publications

Meduna Alexander, Soukup Ondřej: Modern Language Models and Computation: Theory with Applications. New York: Springer US, 2017. ISBN 978-3-319-63099-1
Meduna Alexander, Zemek Petr: Regulated Grammars and Automata, New York, US, Springer, 2014, 694 p., ISBN 978-1-4939-0368-9
Meduna Alexander: Formal Languages and Computation, New York, US, Taylor & Francis, 2014, 315 p., ISBN 978-1-4665-1345-7
Meduna Alexander, Zemek Petr: Jumping Finite Automata. International Journal of Foundations of Computer Science. 2012, 23(7), ISSN 0129-0541
Meduna Alexander, Techet Jiří: Scattered Context Grammars and their Applications, WIT Press, UK, GB, WIT, 2010, 199 p., ISBN 978-1-84564-426-0
Meduna Alexander: Elements of Compiler Design, New York, US, Taylor & Francis, 2008, 304 p., ISBN 978-1-4200-6323-3
Křivka Zbyněk: Rewriting Systems with Restricted Configurations, Brno, CZ, FIT VUT, 2008, 131 p., ISBN 978-80-214-3722-7
Meduna Alexander, Švec Martin: Grammars with Context Conditions and Their Applications, Wiley, New York, US, WILEY, 2005, 1-225 p., ISBN 0-471-71831-9
Meduna Alexander: Automata and Languages: Theory and Applications, London, GB, Springer, 2000, 892 p., ISBN 1-85233-074-0

The complete list of publications...