Symbolic Boolean manipulation using binary decision diagrams (BDDs) has
been successfully applied to a wide variety of tasks, particularly in
very large scale integration (VLSI) computer-aided design (CAD). The
concept of decision graphs as an abstract representation of Boolean
functions dates back to the early work by Lee and Akers. In the last ten
years, BDDs have found widespread use as a concrete data structure for
symbolic Boolean manipulation. With BDDs, functions can be constructed,
manipulated, and compared by simple and efficient graph algorithms.
Since Boolean functions can represent not just digital circuit
functions, but also such mathematical domains as sets and relations, a
wide variety of CAD problems can be solved using BDDs.
`Binary Decision Diagrams and Applications for VLSI CAD provides
valuable information for both those who are new to BDDs as well as to
long time aficionados.' -from the Foreword by Randal E. Bryant.
`Over the past ten years ... BDDs have attracted the attention of many
researchers because of their suitability for representing Boolean
functions. They are now widely used in many practical VLSI CAD systems.
... this book can serve as an introduction to BDD techniques and ... it
presents several new ideas on BDDs and their applications. ... many
computer scientists and engineers will be interested in this book since
Boolean function manipulation is a fundamental technique not only in
digital system design but also in exploring various problems in computer
science.' - from the Preface by Shin-ichi Minato.