Exercise Monitoring Unit for Executable Architectures

Abstract

Systems and methods for parallel, discrete, simulations include functional capabilities to incorporate one or more human operators or actors into the simulation process. Such individuals can be presented situations where one or more decisions are necessary with respect to ongoing events. Entered decisions are incorporated into simulated events and activities being simulated. These in turn influence the behavior of those entities and also initiate the occurrence of other time-based processes. An architecture artifact or product can be automatically created or updated by recording how a sequence of events took place. The creation of sections of the DoDAF OV-6C Operational Event Trace architectural diagram, for the executable architecture model, can be automatically performed to dynamically provide event traces in response to a live exercise.

1 . An interactive simulation system comprising: 
 a multi-element simulator incorporating system software substantially in accordance with federated executable architecture technology distributed Petri-Net software architecture that carries out a simulation of a pre-selected activity;    an exercise monitoring unit that includes at least one programmable processor, with a display device and a graphical user interface, the processor is coupled to the simulator;    first software, executed by the processor, which in combination with the user interface presents, at least in part visually, a decision-requiring scenario including a plurality of decision consequences for user; and    second software responsive to the user's decision to communicate that decision to the simulator.    
   
   
       2 . A system as in  claim 1  which includes additional software that simulates a possible course of action that might result from one of a plurality of possible decisions.  
   
   
       3 . A system as in  claim 2  where the simulation proceeds at a first temporal rate and possible courses of action are simulated at a second, higher temporal rate.  
   
   
       4 . A system as in  claim 3  where the first temporal rate corresponds substantially to real-time.  
   
   
       5 . A system as in  claim 3  where the additional software simulates a plurality of alternate possible courses of action, in response to at least one user input.  
   
   
       6 . A system as in  claim 5  where the alternate courses of action are simulated sequentially in response to sequential user decisions.  
   
   
       7 . A system as in  claim 6  where the first temporal rate corresponds substantially to real-time.  
   
   
       8 . A system as in  claim 4  which includes a plurality of state based models, members of the plurality of models correspond to members of the plurality of possible decisions.  
   
   
       9 . A system as in  claim 8  where at least some members of the plurality of state based models enter a respective next state in response to a decision made in a respective current state.  
   
   
       10 . A system as in  claim 3  which includes monitoring software that compares progress of an on-going simulation, including previously entered decisions to predetermined expected results.  
   
   
       11 . A system as in  claim 3  which includes creation software that stores an on-going simulation, including previously made decisions, for subsequent use.  
   
   
       12 . A system as in  claim 11  which includes a mass storage unit, coupled to the processor, the storage unit receives the simulation to be stored from the creation software.  
   
   
       13 . A system as in  claim 12  which includes presentation software to present on the display device at least portions of the previously stored simulation.  
   
   
       14 . A system comprising: 
 a plurality of coupled simulators which implement distributed Petri-Net-type software architecture;    a control element coupled to the simulators that interacts with various of the simulators to implement a predetermined application-oriented simulation; and    a graphical users interface and associated software coupled to the control element that visually presents choices to a user for selection with consequences thereof incorporated into the simulation;    system software conforming to the Federated Executable Architecture Technology.    
   
   
       15 . A system as in  claim 14  where the software presents consequences of alternate choices visually to the user.  
   
   
       16 . A system as in  claim 15  where the simulation proceeds in response to a user selected one of the alternative choices.  
   
   
       17 . A system comprising: 
 a plurality of networked Petri-Net-type simulators;    a monitoring unit, coupled to the simulators, the monitoring unit including at least one petri node responsive to manually entered inputs, including a graphical users interface and circuitry to present user selectable decision choices.    
   
   
       18 . A system as in  claim 17  where consequences of at least one decision choice can be presented for review.  
   
   
       19 . A system as in  claim 18  where the consequences can be presented for review at a rate faster than real-time.  
   
   
       20 . A system as in  claim 19  where a plurality of decision choices can be sequentially selected for user evaluation.  
   
   
       21 . A system as in  claim 17  where at least one message can be transmitted in response to a decision choice.  
   
   
       22 . A system as in  claim 17  where the monitoring unit includes a processor and executable software that creates operational event traces.  
   
   
       23 . A method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of networked Petri-Net-type simulators;    coupling a network compatible node to the network, the node responds to at least one received message;    presenting visually choice providing indicia, responsive to the received message;    responding to a received, manually operated input and executing a respective decision; and    displaying consequences of the decision.    
   
   
       24 . A method as in  claim 23  which includes responding to a different, received, manually generated input and executing a different decision.  
   
   
       25 . A method as in  claim 24  which includes displaying consequences of the different decision.  
   
   
       26 . A method as in  claim 24  which includes automatically generating operational event traces.  
   
   
       27 . A method as in  claim 26  which includes storing and retrieving at least some of the event traces.