Transitions in Continuous Time, with an Application to Qualitative Changes in Spatial Relations

Antony Galton

In H. Barringer et al. (eds.), Advances in Temporal Logic (Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Temporal Logic (ICTL'97), Manchester, UK, July 14th-18th, 1997). Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000, pages 279-297.
ISBN 0-7923-6149-0

Abstract

We investigate the definition of transition events within a formal framework for representing time, states, and events. Continuity considerations lead to the introduction of eight distinct kinds of transition. This proliferation is justified in the subsequent application to the qualitative description of changes in relation between spatial regions, where the fineness of discrimination provided by the inventory of transition-types is needed in order to adequately cover all the possibilities.

Section headings

• Introduction
• A temporal framework
• Introducing states
• Introducing events
• Constructing events from states
• Case study: qualitative change in spatial relations
  • The RCC theory
  • Change in RCC relations
    • Entering a region
    • Coming into contact
    • Moving from one region to another
• Conclusion