Two-sorted Point-Interval Temporal Logics

There are two natural and well-studied approaches to temporal ontology and reasoning: point-based and interval-based. Usually, interval-based temporal reasoning deals with points as particular, duration-less intervals. Here we develop explicitly two-sorted point-interval temporal logical framework whereby time instants (points) and time periods (intervals) are considered on a par, and the perspective can shift between them within the formal discourse.

We focus on fragments involving only modal operators that correspond to the inter-sort relations between points and intervals. We analyze their expressiveness, comparative to interval-based logics, and the complexity of their satisfiability problems. In particular, we identify some previously not studied and potentially interesting interval logics. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.