Towards a Family of Pattern Languages for Simulation Software Design

           Wolfgang Kreutzer, Department of Computer Science
           University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
           e-mail: wolfgang@cosc.canterbury.ac.nz
                fax: 0064   - 3 3 642 569
                phone: 0064 - 3 3 642360


ABSTRACT:

   This paper describes the foundations for a family of pattern
languages for simulation software design. After some introductory
comments of the nature and purpose of simulation modelling a number of
different simulation frameworks are briefly classified and discussed
on the basis of their dominant abstractions. The main part of the
paper gives a more detailed survey of simulation modelling patterns
and presents two examples from the simulator design
(i.e. event-oriented model time management) and model construction
(i.e. machine-oriented process synchronization) domains.  The paper
concludes with some speculations about benefits of a pattern language
for simulation software design and its potential impact on component
reuse. Some problems which need to be overcome to make such a vision
reality are also commented on.