OpEMCSS: a graphical discrete event simulation library

Abstract

A graphical discrete event simulation library is described that works with EXTEND (Imagine That Inc), an inexpensive and easy to use simulation software package. This graphical simulation library is called Operational Evaluation Modeling for Context-Sensitive Systems (OpEMCSS). Operational Evaluation Modeling (OpEM) is a graphical language that explicitly describes interacting concurrent processes. Context-Sensitive Systems (CSS) is a systems theory, based on general finite state machines, that can assist a system designer in understanding and evaluating systems. OpEMCSS facilitates the modeling of systems operation, functional flow, and architecture as they affect systems effectiveness. The parallel process view of systems is discussed in terms of CSS theory. A simulation of a space factory system that is built using some of OpEMCSS blocks is discussed as an example.