
Similar to how automaton definitions can be used for reuse of automata, group definitions can be used for reuse of groups:
automaton def Machine(): location: initial; ... end group def Hall(): machine1: Machine(); machine2: Machine(); end group def Factory(): hall1: Hall(); hall2: Hall(); end factory1: Factory();
Automaton definition Machine models a machine, but most of the details are omitted here, as they are not relevant for this lesson. Group definition Hall models that each hall has two machines. Similarly, group definition Factory models that each factory has two halls.
Automata and groups are both components in CIF. Automaton definitions and group definitions can together be called component definitions. If we eliminate all component definitions and their instantiations, by replacing instantiations by their definitions, we get the following CIF specification:
group factory1: group hall1: automaton machine1: location: initial; ... end automaton machine2: location: initial; ... end end group hall2: automaton machine1: location: initial; ... end automaton machine2: location: initial; ... end end end
Group definitions may be parametrized using the same kinds of parameters as automaton definitions.