A simple algorithm for solving the coverability problem for monotonic counter systems

An algorithm for solving the coverability problem for monotonic counter systems is presented. The solvability of this problem is well-known, but the algorithm is interesting due to its simplicity. The algorithm has emerged as a simplification of a certain procedure of a supercompiler application (a program specializer based on V.F. Turchin's supercompilation) to a program encoding a monotonic counter system along with initial and target sets of states and from the proof that under some conditions the procedure terminates and solves the coverability problem.