A system theory approach to the representation of mobile digital controllers agents

In this paper we provide a formal definition of the component concept using the Heterogeneous Flow Systems Specification formalism (HFFS) a general system theory approach to the representation of timed systems. The HFFS formalism permits the development of hierarchical and modular components whose structure evolves over time. HFSS mobile components, a particular form of structural evolution, can represent mobile entities that exist in many systems like, for example, mobile communication devices and mobile software agents. The formal description is used to model a simple control application, based on mobile software agents, where a mobile hybrid component acts as a digital controller, allowing the runtime update of the control system of a vehicle.