On the Generation of Multilevel Distributed Intelligence Systems Using Petri Nets

Abstract : Complex distributed intelligence systems, characterized by the hierarchical arrangement of their subsystems, are described by families of structures, with each family concerned with the behavior of the system as viewed from a different level of abstraction. A methodology to model and generate multilevel hierarchical distributed intelligence systems is presented. A mathematical framework, based on Hierarchical Petri Net theory, is developed for representing the interactions among the objects comprising the system at the same level and across different levels. The methodology and the resulting models also provide a structured and modular way for solving the problem of designing large-scale C3 architectures by breaking a computationally large problem into smaller subproblems. The methodology is applied to two illustrative examples.