A multi-formalism modeling composability framework: agent and discrete-event models

It is common practice to build complex systems from disparate sub-systems. Model composability is concerned with techniques for developing a whole model of a system from the models of its sub-systems. In this paper we present a new kind of multi-formalism modeling composability framework which introduces the concept of knowledge interchange broker for composing disparate modeling formalisms. The approach offers separation of concerns between model specifications and execution protocols across multiple modeling formalisms. The framework is exemplified via vehicle and agent models described in the discrete-event system specification and reactive action planning formalisms. A high-level software specification that illustrates an implementation of this framework is described. Ongoing and future research directions are also briefly presented.