Parallel and Distributed Simulation Systems (Wiley Series on Parallel and Distributed Computing) [Hardcover]

Richard M. Fujimoto (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471183830 | ISBN-13: 978-0471183839 | Publication Date: January 3, 2000 | Edition: 1

A state-of-the-art guide for the implementation of distributed simulation technology.

The rapid expansion of the Internet and commodity parallel computers has made parallel and distributed simulation (PADS) a hot technology indeed. Applications abound not only in the analysis of complex systems such as transportation or the next-generation Internet, but also in computer-generated virtual worlds for military and professional training, interactive computer games, and the entertainment industry.

In this book, PADS expert Richard M. Fujimoto provides software developers with cutting-edge techniques for speeding up the execution of simulations across multiple processors and dealing with data distribution over wide area networks ,including the Internet. With an emphasis on parallel and distributed discrete event simulation technologies, Dr. Fujimoto compiles and consolidates research results in the field spanning the last twenty years, discussing the use of parallel and distributed computers in both the modeling and analysis of system behavior and the creation of distributed virtual environments.

While other books on PADS concentrate on applications, Parallel and Distributed Simulation Systems clearly shows how to implement the technology. It explains in detail the synchronization algorithms needed to properly realize the simulations, including an in-depth discussion of time warp and advanced optimistic techniques. Finally, the book is richly supplemented with references, tables and illustrations, and examples of contemporary systems such as the Department of Defense's High Level Architecture (HLA), which has become the standard architecture for defense programs in the United States.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is indeed a state-of-the-art guide for the implementation of distributed simulation technology" (Simulation News Europe, December 2000)

From the Back Cover

A state-of-the-art guide for the implementation of distributed simulation technology.

The rapid expansion of the Internet and commodity parallel computers has made parallel and distributed simulation (PADS) a hot technology indeed. Applications abound not only in the analysis of complex systems such as transportation or the next-generation Internet, but also in computer-generated virtual worlds for military and professional training, interactive computer games, and the entertainment industry.

In this book, PADS expert Richard M. Fujimoto provides software developers with cutting-edge techniques for speeding up the execution of simulations across multiple processors and dealing with data distribution over wide area networks ,including the Internet. With an emphasis on parallel and distributed discrete event simulation technologies, Dr. Fujimoto compiles and consolidates research results in the field spanning the last twenty years, discussing the use of parallel and distributed computers in both the modeling and analysis of system behavior and the creation of distributed virtual environments.

While other books on PADS concentrate on applications, Parallel and Distributed Simulation Systems clearly shows how to implement the technology. It explains in detail the synchronization algorithms needed to properly realize the simulations, including an in-depth discussion of time warp and advanced optimistic techniques. Finally, the book is richly supplemented with references, tables and illustrations, and examples of contemporary systems such as the Department of Defense's High Level Architecture (HLA), which has become the standard architecture for defense programs in the United States.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Interscience; 1 edition (January 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471183830
• ISBN-13: 978-0471183839
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.8 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #682,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars #1 Source for Parallel and Distributed Simulation Techniques, February 20, 2000

By 

Roger Smith (Orlando, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Parallel and Distributed Simulation Systems (Wiley Series on Parallel and Distributed Computing) (Hardcover)

Parallel and Distributed Simulation Systems, by Richard Fujimoto, brings together all of the leading techniques for designing and operating parallel and distributed simulations. This is the first book to bring this material in a single source. Previously, simulation developers had to research a library to journal and conference articles to identify, master, and select techniques appropriate to their problem.

Fujimoto divides the material into three sections. The first introduces the reader to the real world problems that have given rise to the need for PADS techniques. He also includes an introduction to the field of discrete event simulation, laying the necessary groundwork for the reader to understand the rest of the book.

In the second section the book begins to describe many of the techniques that are used to accomplish parallel or distributed operations for discrete event simulations. These are presented very clearly and most readers will grasp them immediately. In this section, the reader gains an appreciation for the difficulty involved in creating parallel simulations that maintain the causality of events within the entire simulation. Distributing the application across multiple computers has the potential to greatly increase its execution speed, but must do so without jeopardizing the causal accuracy of the simulation. Topics covered include conservative synchronization, time warp, deadlock avoidance, lookahead, repeatability, global virtual time, scheduling, and performance. Fujimoto also includes a description of the Georgia Tech Time Warp system in which he and others have implemented many of these techniques.

Finally, the third section describes the application of PADS techniques to distributed virtual environments. Fujimoto focuses distributed military training systems and points toward the potential for applying these techniques in entertainment applications. This section is motivated by a description of the evolution of distributed military training using protocols like simulator networking (SIMNET), distributed interactive simulation (DIS), aggregate level simulation protocol (ALSP), and the more recent high level architecture (HLA). Fujimoto takes great care to describe how PADS techniques are used within software implementations of the HLA. Topics include distributed interactive simulation, dead reckoning, the high level architecture, network technologies, communication protocols, data distribution management, and message ordering.

The book is an essential tool for those creating parallel or distributed simulation applications or conducting research in the field. It provides and excellent level of detail and sufficient explanation to allow others to implement the techniques. It is available directly from Wiley-Interscience and from most of the Web-based bookstores.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book as a primer to distributed computing, October 1, 2001

By 

James Ryley "James R, PhD" (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Parallel and Distributed Simulation Systems (Wiley Series on Parallel and Distributed Computing) (Hardcover)

This book is a very readable introduction to parallel and distributed computing. It presents concepts well, and offers enough examples to allow one to make sure they have a firm grasp on what is being presented. It is NOT a textbook. It is not full of code, or detailed descriptions of exactly how to implement a parallel/distributed system in a given situation. Those already expert in the field or those seeking low-level detail and code should look elsewhere. I recommend this book to everyone else.

5.0 out of 5 stars It's little older now, but still yields excellent fundamentals., July 7, 2011

By 

Saganaut - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Parallel and Distributed Simulation Systems (Wiley Series on Parallel and Distributed Computing) (Hardcover)

Parallel and Distributed Simulation Systems provides an excellent introduction to the domain. It is written in an understandable, straightforward way and it clearly depicts techniques and algorithms needed for parallel and dist simulations. The book assumes reasonably small amounts of prior knowledge. The book seems to focus much on the theoretical elements of the different algorithms and does not bother with exact implementation strategies. I consider this a very positive facet of the book, systems change so fast that implementation heavy books are often grow antiquated very quickly.