Objective-driven DEVS modeling using OPI matrix for performance evaluation of discrete event systems

DEVS (Discrete Event Systems Specification) models are widely employed for simulation-based performance evaluation of discrete event systems. Performance modeling of such a system requires a pruning of a set of components, or objects, within the system in its subset which are eventually transformed into simulation models. Such modeling is objective-driven in that simulation models may be abstract enough to measure performance indices which reflect simulation objectives. This paper proposes a practical tool, called an OPI (Object-Performance Index) matrix which is useful for such pruning in the objective-driven DEVS modeling. It also presents transformation of the pruned objects to DEVS models for performance simulation. An overall procedure for the objective-driven DEVS modeling from given objectives is presented and a simple example is illustrated.