Progressive Time-Parallel Simulation

Parallel simulation techniques are designed to increase simulation model performance by exploiting model concurrency. Unfortunately, designing efficient parallel simulations is not always an easy task. Most existing techniques guarantee results identical to a corresponding sequential simulation. Other methods try to increase efficiency by relaxing causal constraints, leading to the calculation of approximate results. This work proposes to combine both approaches using the novel technique of progressive time-parallel simulation, where imprecise results are calculated rapidly and improved progressively later on until precise results are known. The user is allowed to cancel this process at any time if the accuracy is satisfying. Progressive time-parallel simulation is a specialized parallelization approach that is not applicable to every kind of simulation model. Possible application areas include simulation-based decision support or simulation-based scheduling and control of manufacturing systems. A successful application of the technique is illustrated with progressive queuing system simulation.