Title: Interactive evolutionary modelling and simulation of discrete-event systems using prototypical objects

Authors: Vladimir Janousek, Elod Kironsky

Addresses: Faculty of Information Technology, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic. ' Faculty of Information Technology, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract: In this paper, we describe an alternative approach to the traditional class-based approach of building simulation models using object-oriented languages. We use the Discrete EVent Systems specification (DEVS) formalism implemented by prototypical objects. The main reason why we use prototype-based object orientation for simulation modelling is the fact that it offers the level of flexibility that we need for interactive evolutionary modelling and simulation, which is used for simulation-based development of systems without exact specifications. We introduce a reflective framework model that constructs, inspects and edits the models specified using DEVS. The meta-object protocol of this framework allows the models to be constructed from scratch and inspected and edited during run-time. Interactive evolutionary modelling and simulation is supported by a visual tool set which has been highly influenced by the user interface of Self, an object-oriented language based on prototypical objects.

Keywords: discrete event systems specification; DEVS; prototype-based object orientation; exploratory programming; evolutionary development; reflectivity; simulation based development; interactive modelling; evolutionary modelling; object-oriented modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAC.2009.024744

International Journal of Autonomic Computing, 2009 Vol.1 No.2, pp.104 - 120

Published online: 30 Apr 2009 *

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