The Activity-tracking paradigm in discrete-event modeling and simulation: The case of spatially continuous distributed systems

From a modelling and simulation perspective, studying dynamic systems consists of focusing on changes in states. According to the precision of state changes, generic algorithms can be developed to track the activity of sub-systems. This paper aims at describing and applying this more natural and intuitive way to describe and implement dynamic systems. Activity is mathematically defined. A generic application case of diffusion is experimented to compare the efficiency of quantized state methods using this new approach with traditional methods which do not focus computations on active areas. Our goal is to demonstrate that the concept of activity can estimate the computational effort required by a quantized state method. Specifically, when properly designed, a discrete event simulator for such a method achieves a reduction in the number of state transitions that more than compensates for the overhead it imposes.

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2011
• Where: SIMULATION
• Authors: Alexandre Muzy, Rajanikanth Jammalamadaka, Bernard P. Zeigler, James J. Nutaro
• Keywords: Dynamic Systems, Generic Application Case, Quantized State Method, SIMULATION 2011, Software Engineering