A Methodology for the 3D Modeling and Visualization of Concurrency Networks

One of the primary formalisms for modeling concurrency and resource contention in systems is Petri nets. The literature on Petri nets is rich with activity on applications as well as extensions. We use the basic Petri net formalism as well as several extensions to demonstrate how metaphor can be applied to yield 3D model worlds. A number of metaphors, including 3Dprimitive and landscape are employed within the framework of VRML-enabled simulation. We designed a template for use in creating any Petri net model and then using the template, implemented an example model utilizing metaphors for both the structure and the behaviors of the model. We determined that the result is an effectively and efficiently communicated model with high memory retention. The modeling methodology that we employ was successfully implemented for Petri nets with the ability for model reuse and/or personalization with any aesthetics applied to the desired Petri net.