HLA-based distributed simulation cloning

Distributed simulation cloning technology is designed to analyze alternative scenarios of a distributed simulation concurrently within the same simulation execution session. One important goal of the technology is to optimize execution by avoiding repeated computation amongst independent scenarios. Our research is concerned with the cloning of High Level Architecture (HLA) based distributed simulations. A decoupled federate architecture is designed to support correct federate cloning at runtime. A federate may spawn clones to explore different scenarios at a decision point. To address the complexity of the overall cloning-enabled distributed simulation due to increasing scenario spawning, we have devised an efficient and precise scheme to identify and partition scenarios. It is desirable to use an incremental cloning mechanism to replicate only those federates whose states will be affected while the rest remain intact and are shared amongst the original and new scenarios. Our incremental cloning mechanism ensures accurate sharing and initiates cloning only when strictly necessary.