Petri net toolbox for MATLAB in web-based analysis and design of discrete-event systems

Abstract The paper presents the results of the project Petri Net Web-based Laboratory ( PN Web-Lab ) that has been developed for the training of the Control Engineering students in discrete-event systems (DES) modelled by Petri nets. The main objectives envisaged by the PN Web-Lab are: the simulation, analysis and design of DES within a familiar framework (using any Java-supported Internet browser), the independence of the operation system, the integration with any http server, the convenient development of further facilities. The PN Web-Lab was meant to ensure full compatibility with the MATLAB software that represents a standard for the computational approaches in Control Engineering. The PN Web-Lab was implemented as a client-server application, offering a large flexibility in exploitation. An example illustrates the usage of some tools provided by the PN Web-Lab . The overall conception of the PN Web-Lab can be successfully exploited to develop various Internet-based services for laboratory exercises and experiments in distance learning.