Institute for Software Integrated SystemsVanderbilt University

Towards a Paradigmfor Activity Modeling

SMC2000 WP-2.9: Modeling & Control – Hybrid Systems 2

October 11, 2000, Hermitage D, 5:10 pm

Jason Garrett

GARRETT Towards a Paradigm for Activity Modeling

WP-2.9

Motivation, DuPont

Give operators the ability to use information obtained from sensors in the plant and allow individuals the opportunity to use this information for decision making:

• Real-time and historical information is obtained through a Process Monitoring and Control (PM&C) database

• Chemical simulation capabilities accessible via remote supercomputer execution

• Signal Processing should be allowed at any integration point• Remote clients should be easy to instantiate, completely

configurable, and allow for multiple paths of bidirectional communication

GARRETT Towards a Paradigm for Activity Modeling

WP-2.9

Presentation Overview

System Integration Problem:• General Case• Our specific case

Model Integrated Computing (MIC):• Explanation• Relevance to our Problem

MIC -> Activity Modeling ToolOur Specific Run-Time EnvironmentConclusions

GARRETT Towards a Paradigm for Activity Modeling

WP-2.9

System Integration, General

Classic Problem: data need to be exchanged through systems not sharing a common interface

Classic Solution: GLUE code in Run-Time Environment

System1

System2

System3

System4

?

GARRETT Towards a Paradigm for Activity Modeling

WP-2.9

System Integration, Specific

neoClassic Problem: frequent reconfiguration; system addition; distanced operation manager

Our Solution: Activity Modeling through Model Integrated Computing

PM&C

SigProc.

Simul.

GUI

AMTFuture1Future1Future1

Future1Future1Future2

GARRETT Towards a Paradigm for Activity Modeling

WP-2.9

Model Integrated Computing

ModelInterpretation

Model Interpreters

Models

MIPSEnvironment

ApplicationDomain

App.1

App.2

App.3

ApplicationEvolution

EnvironmentEvolution

Meta-LevelTranslation

MetaprogrammingInterface

Formal Specifications

Model Builder

The Multigraph Architecture

GARRETT Towards a Paradigm for Activity Modeling

WP-2.9

MIC Relevance

Model Integrated Computing builds Model Integrated Program Synthesis (MIPS) environments based on a multi-aspect, containment hierarchy with different types of associations:

• Associations such as connections, references, sets, must have higher level intentions

• Strict use of these associations allows for unambiguous interpretation of data to synthesize target environments

Implication: infrastructure standardization is inherent,

solving a key system integration problem

GARRETT Towards a Paradigm for Activity Modeling

WP-2.9

MIC Relevance II

• All graphic components (syntax) and their associations (semantics) are assigned meaning

• MetaModeler is put in charge of making Systems conform to infrastructure and capturing necessary characteristics

GARRETT Towards a Paradigm for Activity Modeling

WP-2.9

MIC Relevance III:The Proposition

Refine our needs into a block structure representing the specific systems (PM&C, GUI, Sim. SigProc.) and define visual characteristics at the highest level

Result: an infrastructure linked through a run-time kernel with subsystem comps. capable of contrib. via dir. conns.

GARRETT Towards a Paradigm for Activity Modeling

WP-2.9

MIC -> Activity Modeling Tool

Capture characteristics of individual systems at meta-level, infuse these into the domain-specific environment

Solves: reconfiguration eased through finding essentials

GARRETT Towards a Paradigm for Activity Modeling

WP-2.9

Our RT Environment

Vantage (PM&C)

Aspen Sim Super

WinServerAspen SimCli

WebServerGUI Client

.cpp;

.hpp;.html;.cfg

MICAMT

MIPS

GARRETT Towards a Paradigm for Activity Modeling

WP-2.9

Our RT Environment, GUI

Java Applet configured dynamically from model information, allows for bidirect. communication with data pipeline

GARRETT Towards a Paradigm for Activity Modeling

WP-2.9

Conclusions

• Model Integrated Computing application to System Integration problem in specific case of Chemical Plant processing

• Solves problems of:– Abstracting modeler from details of system– Allowing for easy reconfiguration– Infrastructure def’n for addition of new comps.

• Places intrinsic difficulties on meta-modeler and gives domain user closer interaction

• Provides framework for numerous system integration problems

Institute for Software Integrated SystemsVanderbilt University

Towards a Paradigmfor Activity Modeling

Jason Garrett, Akos Ledeczi, Frank DeCaria

SMC2000 WP-2.9: Modeling & Control – Hybrid Systems 2

October 11, 2000, Hermitage D, 5:10 pm

Funding support from theDupont Chemical Corporation,

Old Hickory Plant, TN