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Theoretical Computer Science

The theory of Formal Languages and Automata constitutes one of the fundamental areas of Theoretical Computer Science. Among the many-faceted research of Prof. Dr Gift Siromoney, contributions to the theory of formal languages and its generalizations/applications occupy a central place.

'Kolam' is a traditional art practised extensively in the southern part of India, for decorating the courtyards of dwellings. Prof. Dr Gift Siromoney has done interesting research on the structure and other aspects of kolam patterns. Motivated by these kolam designs, different types of two-dimensional generative models were developed by him with Prof. Dr Rani Siromoney and Prof. Dr. Kamala Krithivasan. The various models are: Matrix models which describe patterns having unrestricted growth in two or three directions; Array models which are more powerful and can describe two-dimensional patterns maintaining a fixed proportion between length and breadth such as intricate kolam designs; Cycle grammars for describing kolam patterns; Radial models that describe patterns having radial symmetry; Hexagonal array models generating hexagonal arrays that elegantly capture two-dimensional views of cubes.

Incorporating the developmental type of generation used in Lindenmayer systems into arrays, Prof. Siromoney proposed a model general enough to include certain other array models. Another area of study that Prof. Dr Gift Siromoney was interested in was Map Systems that depict biological growth by binary cell division. The features introduced by him and his collaborators enabled description of pattern of venation found on the wings of a butterfly.

Yet another topic of research in which Prof. Dr Gift Siromoney made valuable contribution was cryptography. Collaborating with Prof. Dr Rani Siromoney, a Public key cryptosystem related to formal language theory was constructed by him.

Each of these basic studies has served as a topic of research either for theoretical properties or for application aspects.

The wide variety of topics in Theoretical Computer Science, especially, in Formal Language theory which engaged Prof. Siromoney amply bear out the genius and originality of his brilliant mind.

- K.G. Subramanian (1970-88), 
Currently, Professor & Head, Department of Mathematics, Madras Christian College.

Publications

  1. Equal matrix languages and kleene closure
    Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Vol.74 (1971) No. 4,Sec.A, pp 172-188
    (with Rani Siromoney)  
  2. Abstract families of matrices and picture languages
    Computer Graphics and Image Processing, Vol. 1 (1972), pp 284-307
    (with Rani Siromoney and Kamala Krithivasan)  
  3. Picture languages with array rewriting rules
    Information and Control, Vol. 22 (1973), 447-470
    (with Rani Siromoney and Kamala Krithivasan)  
  4. N-dimensional array languages and description of crystal symmetry - I
    Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Vol. 78 (1973), Sec.A. 72-88
    (with Rani Siromoney and Kamala Krithivasan)  
  5. N-dimensional array languages and description of crystal symmetry - II
    Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Vol.78 (1973), Sec.A. 130-139
    (with Rani Siromoney and Kamala Krithivasan)  
  6. Array grammars and kolam
    Computer Graphics and Image Processing, Vol.3 (1974), 63-88                                           (with Rani Siromoney and Kamala Krithivasan)  
  7. Parallel O-Lindenmayer Languages
    Paper presented at the All India Workshop and Symposium on Digital Image Processing 1973, Also, International Journal of Computer Mathematics, Vol. 5 Section A, (1975), 109-123
    (with Rani Siromoney)  
  8. Radial grammars and biological systems
    Proceedings of the Conference on Biologically Motivated Automata Theory (1974),         McLean, Virginia,  92-96
    (with Rani Siromoney)  
  9. Extended controlled table arrays
    TR-304, Computer Science Centre, University of Maryland, May 1974,
    also Information and Control, Vol. 35, No. 2, (1977), 119-138
    (with Rani Siromoney)  
  10. Radial grammars and radial L-systems
    Computer Graphics and Image Processing, Vol.4, (1975), 361-374
    (with Rani Siromoney)  
  11. Hexagonal arrays and rectangular blocks
    Computer Graphics and Image Processing, Vol. 5, (1976), 353-381
    (with Rani Siromoney)  
  12. Extended table matrix grammars
    Proceedings of the First Conference in Foundations of Software Technology and Theoretical Computer Science, Bangalore, December, 1981
    (with Rani Siromoney and Subramanian, K.G.) and TR STAT 50/83, Madras Christian College 1983.  
  13. Stochastic table arrays
    Computer Graphics and Image Processing, Vol. 18, (1982), 202 - 211
    (with Rani Siromoney and Subramanian, K.G.)  
  14. A map generating system with handles
    Proceedings of the Third Conference on Foundations of Software Technology and Theoretical Computer Science, Bangalore, 1983, 145-170
    (with Subramanian, K.G. and Rani Siromoney)  
  15. A note on an extension of matrix grammars generating two-dimensional languages.
    Information Sciences, Vol 35, 1985
    (with Rani Siromoney and Subramanian, K.G)  
  16. A public key cryptosystem that defies cryptanalysis
    Bulletin of the European Association for Theoretical Computer Science, 28, Februarty 1986 37-43
    (with Rani Siromoney)  
  17. Rosenfeld 's cycle grammars and kolam
    Presented at the Third International Workshop on Graph-Grammars and their Applications to Computer Science, Airlie, Virginia, December 2-6, 1986, also, TR Math 20/87 July 1987,
    also in Graph-grammars and application to Computer Science, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 291, 1987, 564-579,  Springer-Verlag
    (with Rani Siromoney)  
  18. Map systems with handles
    "A Perspective in Theoretical Computer Science, Commemorative Volume for Gift Siromoney" (Series in Computer Science 16), ed. R. Narasimhan, World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, June 1989, 324-352
    (with Rani Siromoney and Subramanian, K.G.)  
  19.  Kambi kolam and cycle grammars
    "A Perspective in Theoretical Computer Science, Commemorative Volume for Gift Siromoney" (Series in Computer Science 16), ed. R. Narasimhan, World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, June 1989,  267-300
    (with Rani Siromoney and Robinson, T.)  
  20. Generalized parikh vector and public key cryptosystems
    "A Perspective in Theoretical Computer Science, Commemorative Volume for Gift Siromoney" (Series in Computer Science 16), ed. R. Narasimhan, World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, June 1989, 301-323
    (with Rani Siromony, Subraminan, K.G., Rajkumar Dare, V. and Abisha, P.J.)  
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