A transition system for AC language algorithms

Recently a logic programming language AC was proposed by Mellarkod et al. (2008) to integrate answer set programming (ASP) and constraint logic programming. In a similar vein, Gebser et al. (2009) proposed a clingcon language integrating ASP and finite domain constraints. A distinguishing feature of these languages is their capacity to allow new efficient inference algorithms that combine traditional ASP procedures and other efficient methods in constraint programming. In this paper we show that a transition system introduced by Nieuwenhuis et al. (2006) can be extended to model the “hybrid” acsolver algorithm, by Mellarkod et al., designed for processing a class of simple AC programs. We also define a new class of weakly-simple programs and show how the introduced transition system describes a class of algorithms for such programs. Finally, we demonstrate that any clingcon program can be seen as an AC program.