Mealy Machines

NOTE: If we can compose (output to input of another machine) these machines, we could create
complete simulations.

Motivation
Mealy Machines have an output function which is a function of both the input and current state. These
systems can be considered to consume input events, produce output events and update its internal state.
These systems are often used to model network protocols or other message passing systems.

Application
Consider the Transport Control Protocol (TCP) shown in the figure.

CONNECT/ SYN (Step 1 of the 3-way-handshake)

unusual event
client/receiver path (Start) CLOSED
server/sender path CLOSE/-
LISTEN/-
CLOSE/-
(Step 2 of the 3-way-handshake) SYN/SYN+ACK
LISTEN

RST/- SEND/ SYN

SYN SYN
RECEIVED SYN/SYN+ACK (simultaneous open) SENT

Data exchange occurs

ACK/- SYN+ACK/ACK
ESTABLISHED
(Step 3 of the 3-way-handshake)

CLOSE/ FIN
CLOSE/ FIN FIN/ACK

Active CLOSE Passive CLOSE

FIN/ACK
FIN WAIT 1 CLOSING CLOSE WAIT
FIN+ACK/ACK

ACK/- CLOSE/ FIN

FIN WAIT 2 TIME WAIT LAST ACK

FIN/ACK

Timeout

(Go back to start) CLOSED

Illustration 1: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Tcp_state_diagram_fixed.svg
Questions Tasks
1) From the diagram extract all of the “events” or symbols in the input alphabet.
2) What are the output alphabet or “events”

The input events are from the following set:

{LISTEN,CLOSE,CONNECT,SEND,RST,ACK,SYN,SYN+ACK,FIN,FIN+ACK,TIMEOUT}

The output events are from the following set:

{-,FIN,SYN,ACK,SYN+ACK}

The states of the machine are:

{CLOSED, LISTEN, SYN_RECIEVED, SYN_SENT, ESTABLISHED,
FIN_WAIT1, FIN_WAIT2, CLOSING, TIME_WAIT, CLOSE_WAIT, LAST_ACK}

Questions Tasks
1) Using the above events and mapping the states to q0, ….. ,q11 create a Mealy machine.
(the following may be helpful:
http://tcpipguide.com/free/t_TCPOperationalOverviewandtheTCPFiniteStateMachineF-2.htm)

2) Use the resulting machine to discuss the following

1. If the client attempts to CONNECT to a server, events must occur to reach the
ESTABLISHED state? Are there any other ways to reach the ESTABLISHED state after
receiving a CONNECT event?
2. What sequence(s) of events occur after a server receives a LISTEN event to reach the
ESTABLISHED state?
3. What sequence(s) of events occur when the may occur to reach the CLOSED state?