Realizing Simple Petri Net Models for Complex and Large Scheduling Problems: An Approach Based Activity-Oriented Petri Nets

This work presents a new Petri nets based approach for modeling discrete event systems in which activities compete for common resources. The new approach is known as Activity-Oriented Petri Net (AOPN). AOPN allows modelers to concentrate on modeling activities, and the resources are left to be managed by the underlying system; this approach allows compact and much simpler models even for large and complex systems that involve many resources. General Purpose Petri Net Simulator (GPenSIM) is a toolbox of functions realizing AOPN approach on MATLAB platform. In this paper, an application example is also presented to demonstrate how efficiently a resource scheduling problem can be modeled and simulated with AOPN approach.