On-line data processing in simulation models: new approaches and possibilities through HLA

The United States Department of Defense's High Level Architecture for Modeling and Simulation (HLA) provides a standardized interface for distributed simulations. The recent advent of HLA has greatly increased interest in the use of distributed, interoperable simulation model components. This paper focuses on how on-line data (i.e. data from real-time dependent processes) can be used in analytical simulation models and how the use of HLA based components can facilitate the integration of this kind of data into simulations. The paper also discusses the issue of cloning federates and federations and introduces some potential applications of cloning for a public transportation prototype example.