Specification of dynamic structure discrete event systems using single point encapsulated control functions

Abstract

In Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS), the dynamics of a network is constituted only by the dynamics of its basic components. The state of each component is fully encapsulated. Control in the network is fully decentralized to each component. At dynamic structure level, DEVS should permit the same level of decentralization. However, it is hard to ensure structure consistency while letting all components achieve structure changes. Besides, this solution can be complex to implement. To avoid these difficulties, usual dynamic structure approaches ensure structure consistency allowing structure changes to be done only by the network having newly added dynamics change capabilities. This is a safe and simple way to achieve dynamic structure. However, it should be possible to simply allow components of a network to modify the structure of their network, other components and/or their own structure — without having to modify the usual definition a DEVS network. In this manuscript, it is shown that a simple fully decentralized approach is possible while ensuring full modularity and structure consistency.