DEVS-Based Dynamic Model Reconfiguration and Simulation Control in the Enhanced DoDAF Design Process

Abstract

The combination of DoDAF operational views, which capture the requirements of an architecture, and System views, which provide its technical attributes, forms the basis for semi-automated construction of simulation models. In this paper, we describe an enhanced Model-View-Controller paradigm that works in tandem with the DEVS M&S framework. We also employ the recently introduced DoDAF extensions that incorporate new operational views to allow DoDAF specifications to be written in the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism and, in the process, refine these new extensions. This paper describes a DEVS-based network modeling and simulation environment with dynamic reconfiguration and simulation control. The DEVS modeling and simulation framework with its separation of model, experimental frame, and simulator facilitates the development of a simulation framework supporting run-time simulation tuning. We present a layered simulation architecture that provides the capability to control and reconfigure simulation on-the-fly and steer it toward the desired performance parameters. The rapid feedback cycle supported by “real-time” intervention allows experimentation with parameters and structures and results in effective model configuration that is difficult to achieve when turnaround requires hours or days. We explore the area of system reconfiguration further by providing enhanced capabilities to control the parameters for system design and performance evaluation with respect to Net-Ready Key Performance Parameters (NR-KPP) and the way in which the refined DoDAF extensions can expedite the development of Key Interface Profile (KIP) for any DoDAF architecture. We demonstrate the enhanced capabilities with an example of the development of a simulation environment for the Systems Capable of Planned Expansion (SCOPE) command.