Integrating distributed models: the architecture of ENVISION

Abstract

This paper discusses the fundamental components, structures and relationships needed to create representations that support manufacturing system design synthesis with numerous models developed independently, written in different languages, requiring specialized resources, and hosted on a variety of computer systems. ENVISION (ENVironment for Interactive Simulation Integration Over Networks), a prototype implementation of model integration architecture is presented. The conceptual framework for model interoperability is communicating objects participating in client-server relationships. Logical encapsulation treats individual models as message passing objects. ENVISION includes mechanisms for accessing remote models, integrating those models into networks, running the model experiments, and then saving the configurations for use in subsequent system design efforts. An example design problem illustrates the manner in which independent models operate within an ENVISION instantiation.