Implication chart method for state reduction

state-machines

I'm not understanding implication charts to reduce states for Mealy and Moore machines. I'm looking at an example from berkley

I was able to construct the table and then also eliminate the ones based on that output(here's the one from the site since you can't see my whiteboard)

potentials eliminated based on outputs

The thing is, I don't understand how they got to the next step.

What about this step?

How did they decide to eliminate those states? Following the steps, I wound up eliminating several steps they kept, such as a and d, since c and e are clearly not the same.

What am I missing?

Best Answer

Let's first look at the a-b box (the topmost one). In the box it says d-f, c-h. First you look at the d-f box, there is a cross. This means that d-f is invalid. Thus any box that contains d-f, in this case it will be the a-b box which we are concerned right now, should be crossed out. Repeat it again to other "alive box"s.