The field of discrete event systems has emerged to provide a formal treatment of many of the man-made systems such as manufacturing systems, communication networks, automated traffic systems, database management systems and computer systems that are event-driven, highly complex and not amenable to the classical treatments based on differential or difference equations. Discrete event systems is a growing field that utilizes many interesting mathematical models and techniques. In this text, the focus is on a high level treatment of discrete event systems, where the order of events, rather their occurrence times is the principal concern. Such treatment is needed to guarantee that the system under study meets desired logical goals. In this framework, discrete event systems are modelled by formal languages or, equivalently, by state machines. The field of logical discrete event systems is an interdisciplinary field, it includes ideas from computer science, control theory, and operations research. The book is also designed for a graduate level course on logical discrete event systems. It contains all the necessary background material in formal language theory and lattice theory.
The only prerequisite is some degree of "mathematical maturity". Several examples and exercise problems are included in each chapter to facilitate classroom teaching.