A unified distributed simulation system

Proposes a method for generalizing existing distributed simulation algorithms such as the time warp and Chandy-Misra algorithms to create a unified distributed simulation (UDS) algorithm. Explicitly defining risk and aggressiveness parameters for each model allows models with different behaviors to be mixed within one simulation. The author illustrates how this results in a more powerful environment for creating complex simulations. Current distributed simulation techniques compared. The author relates computational reflection and speculation to the UDS algorithm and details the concurrent object-oriented programming environment created to support Rival, its implementation. UDS extends the functionality of the current distributed simulation techniques. UDS allows components to describe how and when they are willing to receive and process messages and, as a result, gives the user more power and flexibility