Joining a Distributed Simulation Environment via Alsp

The Aggregate-Level Simulation Protocol (ALSP) provides a common platform where a simulation can import objects owned by other simulations (ghosting) into its local modeling framework, and can export its objects to other simulations. In ALSP, simulations are referred to as actors, and an aggregate of simulations form the ALSP Confederation. The first pair of actors to successfully join the confederation are the Corps Battle Simulation (CBS) and the Air Warfare Simulation (AWSIM). CBS is currently undergoing changes to interface with the Combat Service Support Training Simulation System (CSSTSS). This paper describes the approach and changes that allow CBS to successfully join the ALSP Confederation. There are two distinct areas of changes that CBS had to undertake: functional changes and interface changes. The functional changes give CBS the ability to generate the simulation event data and object state changes needed to support the modeling interface with other actors. This was achieved by enhancing or inhibiting certain functionality in the model. The interface changes provide CBS with the ability to recognize and generate ALSP messages needed to support the functional changes. The implementation approach to the above changes was based on the philosophy that CBS's stand- alone functionality should be kept intact.