From State-transition Models to DEVS Models - Improving DEVS External Interoperability using MetaDEVS - A MDE Approach

In this paper, the issue of the “external” interoperability of DEVS models is discussed. Scientists often need to simulate non-DEVS models using a DEVS-oriented framework, in order, for instance, to make their DEVS and non-DEVS modes interoperate. The source formalisms we propose to transform onto DEVS models are those which are based on the “family” of states and transitions. A general and model-oriented approach called MetaDEVS is presented in this article. MetaDEVS is also the name given to the DEVS metamodel we use. This metamodel allows creating platform-independent DEVS models. This paper shows how models which belong to the state and transitions “family” can be mapped onto DEVS, and more exactly onto MetaDEVS-based DEVS models, following the MetaDEVS approach. Then, the approach is applied to a concrete case: we transform Finite-State Machine (FSM) models into MetaDEVS models, using ATL, a hybrid language (which mixes both declarative and imperative rules), within the Eclipse Modelling Framework. A metamodel to describe the FSM formalism is also proposed.