Collaborative distributed network system: a lightweight middleware supporting collaborative DEVS modeling

The present and future of our world, in part, depends on the effective application of problem solving techniques and tools that are able to bring together expertise from many disciplines, e.g. problems such as how world wide distribution of commodities are inherently multidisciplinary in mature. A such they demand collaborative computer-based tools that enable subject matter experts to work cooperatively while overcoming the constraints of space and time. The realization of collaborative tools can benefit greatly by relying on "out-of-the-box" higher level network interconnectivity software. In this paper, we discuss the collaborative distributed network model (CDNM). Based on this model, a lightweight middleware called collaborative distributed network system (CDNS) is implemented using Java technologies. We discuss CDNM's architecture and the services it can provide to modeling and simulation applications built on its foundation. Furthermore, we discuss Collaborative DEVS Modeler, a collaborative modeling environment, where dispersed clients interact with one another using the services offered by the CDNS. The explicit architectural design of CDNM will facilitate its future migration into emerging middleware standards such as High Level Architecture (HLA) and CORBA. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.