A process oriented distributed simulation package

Abstract

This paper presents a process oriented, discrete event, distributed simulation package that is based on the Virtual Time mechanism. Virtual Time can be characterised as an optimistic, loosely-coupled, distributed synchronisation algorithm. The package is loosely modelled around Demos [Birtwistle, 79a], a general purpose discrete event simulation package written in Simula [Birtwistle, 79b]. Active components of a simulation are completely independent and are called entities. Communication between entities is accomplished through a system of shared "conditions". When one entity wishes to communicate with another it "signals" the appropriate condition to the other entity. A harbour simulation is developed to illustrate the features of this simulation package.