A New Modular Petri Net for Modeling Large Discrete-Event Systems: A Proposal Based on the Literature Study

Abstract

Petri net is a highly useful tool for modeling of discrete-event systems. However, Petri net models of real-life systems are enormous, and their state-spaces are usually of infinite size. Thus, performing analysis on the model becomes difficult. Hence, slicing of Petri Net is suggested to reduce the size of the Petri nets. However, the existing slicing algorithms are ineffective for real-world systems. Therefore, there is a need for alternative methodologies for slicing that are effective for Petri net models of large real-life systems. This paper proposes a new Modular Petri Net as a solution. In modular Petri net, large Petri net models are decomposed into modules. These modules are compact, and the state spaces of these modules are also compact enough to be exhaustively analyzed. The research contributions of this paper are the following: Firstly, an exhaustive literature study is done on Modular Petri Nets. Secondly, from the conclusions drawn from the literature study, a new Petri net is proposed that supports module composition with clearly defined syntax. Thirdly, the new Petri net is implemented in the software GPenSIM, which is crucial so that real-life discrete-event systems could be modeled, analyzed, and performance-optimized with GPenSIM.

Modular distributed models of production systems: a Petri nets based approach

“…The third aspect, in turn, concerned the development of tools and areas of possible application of modular Petri nets. A more detailed description of the work in this area can be found at [13]. The conclusions from the aforementioned research indicate both the benefits that modularization is to derive (flexibility -the ability to add or change functionality, intelligibility -legibility of models, reduction of development time and reliability), as well as the ability to effectively model large systems as modular models.…”

“…However, it will be challenging to model an eventual manufacturing system as an event graph in which every place has exactly one input and one output transition. Usually, the rules for reducing model size do not apply to general manufacturing systems [13].…”

“…It should also be noted that classic monolithic paths are not suitable for inter-module communication, and the designed interface must exist at every level of the module for the module to react independently of the rest of the system. The author's research [12,13,30], mentioned in the introduction, proposes the newest modular Petri Nets meeting the above requirements. The modular Petri nets proposed in these two works are implemented in the General-purpose Petri Net Simulator (GPenSIM) [31,32].…”

“…This focuses on modular Petri nets; section 2 provides a survey on modular Petri nets. Section 3 discusses a new modular Petri net, proposed by the first author of this paper [13]. Section 4 is devoted to the presentation of the modular model with distributed Petri Modules.…”

Extracting Petri Modules From Large and Legacy Petri Net Models

“…Based on the literature study, [28] presents a new modular Petri net, in which a Petri model consists of a set of modules (known as Petri modules) and inter-modular connectors (known as IMCs).…”