The Petri net as a modeling tool

Abstract

The Petri net model is presented as a modeling tool for coordination of asynchronous processes. The Petri net is defined and shown to be both flexible in representing concurrency and easy to comprehend. An extended Petri net model is introduced, and its greater flexibility for coordination modeling is demonstrated. The Cigarette Smokers' Problem is modeled with a Petri net, and a Producer - Consumer Problem is solved with the extended Petri net. The net is briefly evaluated with mention of results of an experimental high-level language simulation of the extended Petri net.