OPEDo: a tool framework for modeling and optimization of stochastic models

A model-based design of systems requires appropriate tool support in many ways. It requires a modeling notation that suits the application problem, a set of analysis techniques that provide qualitative and/or quantitative results, and finally some optimization methods that help a designer to make appropriate design decisions. The challenge is to integrate those components into a homogenous framework such that a model based design takes advantage from synergy effects that result from a sophisticated combination of modeling formalism, analysis and optimization technique. In this paper, we present OPEDo, a tool framework that integrates modeling tools and analysis engines with state-of-the-art optimization methods. With respect to modeling, it contains the ProC/B editor for specifying open process-oriented simulation models, the APNN Toolbox for modeling with stochastic Petri nets, and OMNet++, for modeling using a simulation language. OPEDo provides analysis techniques for stochastic models based on discrete event simulation, based on queueing network analysis and numerical analysis techniques for continuous time Markov chains with the help of HIT, OMNeT++, and APNN Toolbox. Optimization of stochastic models has particular challenges due to the cost of model evaluation and the precision of results that can be achieved, so OPEDo contains specially adjusted variants of a variety of optimization methods, which includes response surface methodology, evolutionary strategies, genetic algorithms, and Kriging metamodeling techniques.