Teaching code

4S013607

Academic staff

Roberto Posenato, Pietro Sala

Coordinator

Roberto Posenato

Credits

6

Language

English

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

INF/01 - INFORMATICS

Period

2nd semester dal Mar 2, 2026 al Jun 12, 2026.

Courses Single

Authorized

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

Temporal reasoning is the process of understanding and reasoning about events
and their order in time.

The course aims to provide the theoretical and practical fundamentals to understand advanced methodologies of temporal reasoning. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
(i) Identify the variable temporal components in a real-world problem;
(ii) model these components by selecting the most suitable formalism in terms of expressiveness and computational efficiency;
(iii) identify the computational techniques most suitable for implementing the model described in the previous point;
(iv) evaluate the solution's effectiveness.

Topics covered include temporal logic, temporal databases, event calculus,
temporal constraint reasoning, and temporal constraint networks.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Familiarity with propositional and first-order logic.
Some exposure to computer science and algorithm theory.

Program

Introduction to Temporal Reasoning:
- Overview of temporal reasoning and its importance;
- Basic concepts: time points, intervals, events;
- Time representations: points vs. intervals, discrete vs. dense time;
Temporal Logics:
- Propositional temporal logics (e.g., CTL, CTL*, LTL);
- First-order temporal logics (e.g., TPTL);
- Model checking techniques for temporal logic;
Synthesis of Temporal Property:
- Problem Formulation;
- Temporal logics, Event Calculus, and Monadic Second Order Logics;
- Games for Solving the Synthesis Problem;
Temporal Databases:
- Introduction to temporal databases;
- Temporal data models (e.g., valid time vs. transaction time);
- Query languages for temporal databases (e.g., TSQL2, TQuel);
Temporal Constraint Reasoning:
- Introduction to Temporal Constraint Reasoning;
- Constraint satisfaction problems over time;
- Temporal reasoning with uncertainty;
- Algorithms for solving temporal constraint networks.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

In-person classes.

Learning assessment procedures

During the course, at the end of each main topic, students are assigned exercises, distributed throughout the teaching period, to encourage gradual learning.

Assessment is based on an individual oral examination, during which the student meets with both instructors to discuss the completed exercises, explaining their solutions and the reasoning applied. The aim is to assess not only the correctness of the answers, but also the understanding of the concepts and methodologies employed.

During the examination, variations of the assigned exercises may be proposed to evaluate the ability to adapt acquired knowledge to similar but modified problems. Students who have fully mastered the original exercises should be able to address these variants successfully. The examination is conducted jointly by both instructors in the same session.

Evaluation criteria

The assessment criteria adopted in the examination are as follows:
• Conceptual understanding – Students must demonstrate that they have acquired and internalised the fundamental principles of temporal reasoning, clearly explaining the theoretical foundations underpinning their solutions.
• Problem-solving skills and adaptability – The evaluation considers the student’s flexibility of thought, namely the ability to recognise when and how to adjust their approach to address variations of the problem.
• Communication skills – Clarity and coherence of presentation are assessed, with particular attention to the ability to explain complex reasoning processes effectively.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final grade is determined on the basis of the following components:
• Assessment of coursework exercises – Accounts for approximately 50% of the final grade and considers not only the correctness of the solutions, but also the quality of reasoning and clarity of presentation.
• Discussion of solutions with the instructors – Accounts for 25% of the grade and evaluates the student’s ability to explain and defend their solutions in a structured dialogue, with the aim of verifying genuine understanding of the concepts beyond the mere mechanical execution of exercises.
• Solving variations of the exercises during the examination – Accounts for 25% of the grade and assesses the ability to recognise recurring patterns, adapt knowledge to new situations, and apply concepts flexibly when faced with modified versions of familiar problems.

The distinction “with honours” is awarded exclusively for outstanding performance, demonstrating complete mastery of all course content together with an exceptional level of insight, creativity, or depth of understanding that exceeds the standard expectations for the course.

Exam language

English

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