Finite dimensional systems of partial differential or difference equations (Q2565217)

In this paper results of a previous paper by the same author [Acta Appl. Math. 20, 1-175 (1990; Zbl 0715.93014)] are used to obtain complete answers to questions raised in the literature on multivariate splines. Results in systems theory are also obtained, including a characterization of multidimensional systems with finite-dimensional state space. Algoritms for the determination of the characteristic variety, solution of finite dimensional systems and solution of the homogeneous finite-dimensional Cauchy problem complete the paper. Only linear algebra over fields and Hilbert's Nullstellensatz are used in the algorithms themselves, with more difficult previous theorems on linear systems of PDE's with constant coefficients only used in the proofs as given in the author's previous paper (referred to earlier).