Categories of inverse systems of compacta with upper semi-continuous bonding functions (Q272840)

W. S. Mahavier defined a topological generalization of inverse limits where bonding functions are set-valued. Although being a natural generalization from the topological point of view, these limits are not inverse limits in the classical categorical sense. Banič and Sović suggested to generalize the notion of categorical limits to include those generalized inverse limits. In the present paper a different approach is taken. The author introduces a category \({\mathcal G}(\Lambda)\) of inverse systems of compacta with upper semi-continuous bonding functions indexed by a given directed set \(\Lambda\) such that the topological generalization of inverse limits proposed by Mahavier is characterized by a universal property in this category. A category \({\mathcal G}_{pro}\) in analogy with pro-categories is then constructed which allows generalizations of results about classical inverse limits. Furthermore generalized inverse limits that are not categorical limits are provided.