Creating Computer Simulation Systems An Introduction to the High Level Architecture

by Kuhl, Frederick; Weatherly, Richard; Dahmann, Judith

• ISBN13: 9780130225115
• ISBN10: 0130225118
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-10-08
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

2251A-0 bull; bull; Master HLA: The worldwide standard for simulation and modeling components bull; Detailed coverage for decision-makers and technical professionals. bull; Extended tutorial example: apply HLA to a real-world problem bull; CD-ROM: all examples code, plus Windows-compatible HLA infrastructure software The comprehensive guide to HLA, the worldwide standard for simulation components! If you want to succeed in the new worldwide market for plug-in simulation components, Creating Computer Simulation Systems will show you how. This is the only comprehensive guide to the High Level Architecture (HLA), the new global standard for creating component-based computer models and simulations. HLA was recently adopted by the field's #1 customer, the United States Department of Defense-but it will be equally exciting for commercial applications, even including gaming. In this book, recognized leaders of the HLA community present detailed coverage for decision-makers, software engineers, architects, and project managers alike. Coverage includes: bull; bull; A high-level overview of HLA's technical and business rationale bull; HLA architecture and components, including the Runtime Infrastructure (RTI) and Federation Object Model (FOM) bull; An extended tutorial that shows HLA at work solving a significant real-world simulation problem bull; Advanced technical topics related to HLA implementation bull; Extensive programming examples throughout the book and on website The accompanying website contains a complete implementation of the HLA Runtime Infrastructure for Windows compatible and other computers, as well as "Test Federate" software you can use to invoke HLA services without coding. Whether you're a manager, developer, or integrator, HLA will drive the next revolution in simulation-and this book can help you play a leading role.

Author Biography

Dr. Frederick Kuhl is a Senior Principal Engineer with the MITRE Corporation who currently leads the international HLA standardization effort. Dr. Richard Weatherly is the Chief Engineer of the MITRE Corporation's Information Systems and Technology Division, where he leads the HLA infrastructure development and verification team. Dr. Judith Dahmann has been Chief Scientist for the Defense Modeling and Simulation Office of the United States Department of Defense since 1995.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction.

Why a High Level Architecture for Modeling and Simulation. An HLA Federation Has Software and Data Components. The HLA As a Standard. You Can Run Your Own Federation.

2. The Story Behind the HLA.

Introduction. How the HLA Got Started. The Model of Technology Transition. Technology Development. Product Development. Customer Transition. Why Does HLA Progress When Other (Equally) Good Ideas Have Not?

3. An Overview of the HLA.

Introduction. The HLA Defines a Software Architecture. The HLA Offers Services in Six Areas. Summary.

4. The Sushi Restaurant Federation.

Building a Federation: Beginning an Example. Federation Management: Defining the Federation. The Federation Object Model: A Common Description of the World. Overview of Sharing Data. Sharing Data: More Details. Ownership: Responsibility and Cooperation in Modeling an Entity. Summary.

5. Synchronizing the Federation.

Building a Federation: More on the Example. Time Management: Everything in Order. Federation Execution Lifecycle: Coordinating Independent Federates. Requirements Creep Sets In: the Demo Returns. Summary.

6. A Sample Implementation.

Introduction. Exactly What Is Implemented. Running the Sample Implementation. Types Common to All Federates. Structure of the Production Federate. The Transport Federate. The Consumption Federate. The Manager Federate. The Viewer Federate.

7. Extending the Federation for a New Purpose.

Using the Federation for a New Purpose. Summary.

8. Advanced Topics.

Introduction. Zero Lookahead. Approach to Time Management for Optimistic Federates. Save and Restore. Data Distribution Management (DDM). More on How to Use the MOM.

Appendix References and Accompanying CD.
Index.

Excerpts

Preface Guidance to the ReaderSuppose you have several computer simulations that you wish to combine to create a single simulation system. For example, you have simulations of various manufacturing machines and simulations of conveyors. You desire to create a simulation of a complete factory floor while minimizing the changes needed to the existing simulations. Or perhaps you have a simulation of air traffic controllers in a region and another simulation of civil aircraft. You wish to create a complete simulation of air traffic in your region, and you expect you'll need to add a simulation of military air traffic later. The High Level Architecture for modeling and simulation, or HLA, is the glue you need to combine existing simulations and accommodate new ones.The HLA is a software architecture for creating computer models or simulations out of component models or simulations. The HLA has been adopted by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) for use by all its modeling and simulation activities. The HLA is also increasingly finding civilian application. This book is a comprehensive introduction to the HLA."High Level Architecture" might seem an ambitious name. When the name was adopted by the DoD, the context was a variety of military simulation programs with little in common and little that could be reused. The HLA was the "high level" architecture from the perspective of the simulation programs of the time. While the HLA contains much that is generic to distributed computer systems, its intended application is to modeling and simulation. AudienceThis book will be useful to you if you are one of the following: The systems engineer or integrator of a simulation system comprising several components The developer of a simulation or model to be used as a component in a larger simulation system A decision-maker, someone who has to decide to commit money and resources to a project employing the HLA A student of simulation in the context of computer science A student of technology transferIf you are an integrator or developer, we expect you are an experienced programmer. You'll get the most out of the book if you can run and modify the software presented in the text, but most of the discussion of the HLA is designed to be independent of the code samples. Furthermore, we have provided tools that will allow you to experiment with the HLA without writing software. Scope and ContentsThe book consists of text and a CD-ROM. The text contains tutorial material and exercises with the HLA. The tutorial material can be read without the exercises. The two are differentiated visually, to make it easy to skip the exercises. The CD-ROM contains reference documents, software, and installation instructions. What This Book CoversThe text of the book beyond the Preface is divided into the following chapters: Introduction: defines the HLA The Story Behind the HLA: the reasons for the definition of the HLA and its development, how it came to be, how the HLA has been promoted as an architecture, and why it has succeeded An Overview of the HLA: the HLA considered as a software architecture, its large pieces, its chief functions, and some things it is not The Sushi Restaurant Federation: the beginning of a tutorial on using the HLA to integrate a set of simulations in substantial technical detail Synchronizing the Federation: a continuation of the tutorial A Sample Implementation: a guide to a complete implementation of the simulation system developed in The Sushi Restaurant Federation and Synchronizing the Federation Extending the Federation for a New Purpose: a tutorial that builds on The Sushi Restaurant Federation and Synchronizing the Federation Advanced Topics: further technical detail to be approached after you've read the tutorial part