Citation
Edward A. Lee. "Heterogeneous Actor Models". Talk or presentation, 10, October, 2011; Invited Roadmap Talk, EMSOFT
Taipei, Taiwan.

Abstract
Complex systems demand diversity in the modeling mechanisms. We see this very clearly with cyber-physical systems (CPS), which combine computing and networking with physical dynamics, and hence require model combinations that integrate dynamics described using differential equations with models of software. We also see it in applications where timed interactions with components are combined with conventional algorithmic computations, such as in networked computer games. We even see it in traditional software systems when we have concurrent interactions between algorithmic components.

One way to deal with a diversity of requirements is to create very flexible modeling frameworks that can be adapted to cover the field of interest. The downside of this approach is a weakening of the semantics of the modeling frameworks that compromises interoperability, understandability, and analyzability of the models. An alternative approach is to embrace heterogeneity and to provide mechanisms for a diversity of models to interact.

In this talk, I will describe an approach that achieves such interaction between diverse models using a concept that we call "abstract semantics." An abstract semantics is a deliberately incomplete semantics that cannot by itself define a useful modeling framework. It instead focuses on the interactions between diverse models, reducing the nature of those interactions to a minimum that achieves a well-defined composition. I will illustrate how such an abstract semantics can handle many heterogeneous models that are built today (such as Statecharts, which combine state machines with synchronous concurrent models, hybrid systems, which combine state machines with differential equations, process networks, which combine imperative programs with message passing concurrency, etc.). I will also show how it handles combinations that are not readily available in modeling tools today. I will illustrate these combinations with examples prototyped in Ptolemy II.

Electronic downloads

• ESWEEK_HeterogeneousModels_EMSOFT_Roadmap.pdf · application/pdf · 1483 kbytes

• HTML

  Edward A. Lee. <a
  href="http://chess.eecs.berkeley.edu/pubs/866.html"
  ><i>Heterogeneous Actor Models</i></a>,
  Talk or presentation,  10, October, 2011; <b>Invited
  Roadmap Talk</b>, <i>EMSOFT</i><br>
  Taipei, Taiwan.

• Plain text

  Edward A. Lee. "Heterogeneous Actor Models". Talk
  or presentation,  10, October, 2011; <b>Invited
  Roadmap Talk</b>, <i>EMSOFT</i><br>
  Taipei, Taiwan.

• BibTeX

  @presentation{Lee11_HeterogeneousActorModels,
      author = {Edward A. Lee},
      title = {Heterogeneous Actor Models},
      day = {10},
      month = {October},
      year = {2011},
      note = {<b>Invited Roadmap Talk</b>, <i>EMSOFT</i><br>
                Taipei, Taiwan},
      abstract = {Complex systems demand diversity in the modeling
                mechanisms. We see this very clearly with
                cyber-physical systems (CPS), which combine
                computing and networking with physical dynamics,
                and hence require model combinations that
                integrate dynamics described using differential
                equations with models of software. We also see it
                in applications where timed interactions with
                components are combined with conventional
                algorithmic computations, such as in networked
                computer games. We even see it in traditional
                software systems when we have concurrent
                interactions between algorithmic components.
                <p>One way to deal with a diversity of
                requirements is to create very flexible modeling
                frameworks that can be adapted to cover the field
                of interest. The downside of this approach is a
                weakening of the semantics of the modeling
                frameworks that compromises interoperability,
                understandability, and analyzability of the
                models. An alternative approach is to embrace
                heterogeneity and to provide mechanisms for a
                diversity of models to interact. <p>In this talk,
                I will describe an approach that achieves such
                interaction between diverse models using a concept
                that we call "abstract semantics." An abstract
                semantics is a deliberately incomplete semantics
                that cannot by itself define a useful modeling
                framework. It instead focuses on the interactions
                between diverse models, reducing the nature of
                those interactions to a minimum that achieves a
                well-defined composition. I will illustrate how
                such an abstract semantics can handle many
                heterogeneous models that are built today (such as
                Statecharts, which combine state machines with
                synchronous concurrent models, hybrid systems,
                which combine state machines with differential
                equations, process networks, which combine
                imperative programs with message passing
                concurrency, etc.). I will also show how it
                handles combinations that are not readily
                available in modeling tools today. I will
                illustrate these combinations with examples
                prototyped in Ptolemy II. },
      URL = {http://chess.eecs.berkeley.edu/pubs/866.html}
  }
  

Posted by Mary Stewart on 26 Oct 2011.
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