Integration of a discrete event simulation with a configurable software application

Abstract

In general terms, the invention can be described as a computer system for enhancing the performance of underlying policies and execution-rules of real-world activities. The computer system includes a demand input section for providing demand information to drive the system. A real-time software application has a series of discrete steps for implementing the underlying policies and execution-rules of the activities and converts the demand information into instructions. A simulation-time operations-simulation model implements the underlying policies and execution-rules of the activities and receivers, the instructions. A control section includes a synchronization clock which synchronizes the discrete steps of the software application with the operations-simulation model by delaying the execution of some of the discrete steps and which communicates the instructions from the software application to the operations-simulation model. An output section outputs data to enhance the performance of the underlying policies and the execution-rules of the activities.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A computer system for enhancing the performance of underlying policies and execution-rules of real-world activities, comprising: 
 a demand input section for providing demand information to drive the system;    a real-time software application having a series of discrete steps for implementing the underlying policies and execution-rules of the activities and for converting the demand information into instructions;    a simulation-time operations-simulation model for implementing the underlying policies and execution-rules of the activities and which receives the instructions;    a control section comprising a synchronization clock for synchronizing the discrete steps of the software application with the operations-simulation model by delaying the execution of some of the discrete steps and for communicating the instructions from the software application to the operations-simulation model; and    an output section for outputting data for enhancing the performance of the underlying policies and the execution-rules of the activities.    
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the software application comprises reconfigurable modules for reconfiguring based upon the underlying policies and execution-rules of the activities determined from the output section.  
     
     
         3 . The computer system of  claim 1 , further comprising additional software applications and additional simulation-time operations-simulation models synchronized together through the control section.  
     
     
         4 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the control section utilizes the High Level Architecture enabling communications between the planning model and the operations simulation by synchronizing the real-time software application with the simulation-time operations simulation.  
     
     
         5 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the software application is a business application used in the running of a business.  
     
     
         6 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations simulation simulates physical operations.  
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the demand information is based on emulated customer demand.  
     
     
         8 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the real-world activities are performed by a production facility and the demand information represents demand for a product produced by the production facility.  
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the real-world activities are performed by a production facility and the demand information represents demand for a service produced by the production facility.  
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the software application includes, software agents executing operations over software object representations.  
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the software object representations include forms used in the running a production facility.  
     
     
         12 . A method for enhancing the performance of underlying policies and execution-rules of real-world activities, comprising: 
 inputting demand information into a real-time software application;    translating the demand and passing the translated demand to a simulation-time operations simulation model via a control section;    synchronizing the software application with the simulation-time operations simulation utilizing the control section by delaying the execution of some discrete steps of the software application;    outputting results for the real-world activities;    changing elements of the software application to create a modified software application and again performing the steps of inputting demand information, translating the demand, passing the translated demand, synchronizing the software application, and outputting from the operations simulation; and    executing the real-world activities utilizing the modified software application.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of changing elements; of the operations simulation model in addition to changing the elements of the software application to create a modified operations simulation model and again performing the steps of inputting demand information, translating the demand, passing the translated demand, synchronizing the software application, and outputting from the operations simulation, and executing the real-world activities utilizing operations modified according to the modified operations simulation model.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the translated demand is input-release information.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the control section utilizes the High Level Architecture.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the elements of the software application are changed by changing a metamodel in a framework-based application.  
     
     
         17 . Means for enhancing the performance of underlying policies and execution-rules of real-world activities, comprising: 
 input means for inputting demand information into a real-time software application;    translation means for translating the demand and passing the translated demand to a simulation-time operations simulation model via a control section;    synchronization means for synchronizing the software application with the simulation-time operations simulation utilizing the control section by delaying the execution of some discrete steps of the software application;    output means outputting results for the real-world activities;    modification means for changing elements of the software application to create a modified software application and again performing the steps of inputting demand information, translating the demand, passing the translated demand, synchronizing the software application, and outputting from the operations simulation; and    execution means for executing the real-world activities utilizing the modified software application.    
     
     
         18 . The means of  claim 17 , wherein the translated demand is input-release information.  
     
     
         19 . The means of  claim 17 , wherein the control section utilizes the High Level Architecture.  
     
     
         20 . The means of  claim 17 , wherein the elements of the software application are changed by changing a metamodel in a framework-based application.