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A Process-Oriented Architecture for Complex System Modelling

Ritson, Carl G., Welch, Peter H. (2010) A Process-Oriented Architecture for Complex System Modelling. Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience, 22 . pp. 182-196. (doi:10.1002/cpe.1433) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:30677)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cpe.1433

Abstract

A fine-grained massively parallel and process-oriented architecture for the modelling of complex systems is presented. We propose that the concurrency in the model simplifies its design and construction by directly reflecting the processes in the natural world. The architecture is based on CSP, extended with mechanisms for process mobility from the pi-calculus; implementations are presented using the occam-pi language. A case study, modelling platelets (possibly artificial) within a blood vessel, is described. The aim for this model is to engineer emergent behaviour: the clotting of platelets in response to a wound in the blood vessel wall and the staunching of blood loss. A three-dimensional model is constructed, along with mechanisms for visualization and interaction. Its expressiveness and efficiency relies strongly on the dynamic and mobile capabilities of occam-pi. General principles for the design of large and complex system models are drawn. The described case study runs to millions of processes engaged in ever-changing communication topologies. It is free from deadlock, livelock, race hazards and starvation by design, employing a small set of synchronization patterns for which we have proven safety theorems. Compiled occam-p codes automatically and efficiently exploit all cores in a shared-memory multiprocessor system. They are also straightforward to distribute over standard cluster architectures.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1002/cpe.1433
Uncontrolled keywords: determinacy analysis, Craig interpolants
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 76 Software, computer programming,
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Computing
Depositing User: C. Ritson
Date Deposited: 21 Sep 2012 09:49 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:08 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/30677 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Ritson, Carl G..

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Welch, Peter H..

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