On the Preservation of Properties when Changing Communication Models

In a system of processes that communicate asynchronously by means of FIFO channels, there are many options in which these channels can be laid out. In this paper, we compare channel layouts in how they affect the behaviour of the system using an ordering based on splitting and merging channels. This order induces a simulation relation, from which the preservation of safety properties follows. Also, we identify conditions under which the properties reachability, deadlock freedom and confluence are preserved when changing the channel layout.