Systematic approach to reduction and minimization in automata and system theory

Concepts of reduction and minimization are formulated in a general setting inorder to unify and classify the different constructions in automata and system theory. In addition to a unified theory for deterministic, partial, linear and topological automata, which is partly known, a common theory for nondeterministic, relational, stochastic and relation topological automata is developed using the notion of automata in pseudoclosed categories. Moreover, an approach to a general theory of reduction and minimization is given and applied to a great number of examples in automata and system theory