Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Abekas Video Systems Limited

Carl B Frankel

Carl Cavanagh

Steven A Sivier

James P Freyensee

A distributed simulation system may include a plurality of nodes arranged to perform a simulation of a system under test. The plurality of nodes are configured to communicate simulation commands and signal values for the system under test using message packets transmitted between the plurality of nodes. At least one of the plurality of nodes is configured to log the message packets in one or more log files during the simulation.

Message packet logging in a distributed simulation system

In one embodiment, a distributed simulation system may include a first node configured to participate in a simulation and a second node configured to transmit a hot pull command designating the first node. The first node does not participate in the simulation responsive to the hot pull command. In another embodiment, A distributed simulation system may include a first node configured to participate in a simulation and a second node configured to transmit a hot plug command designating the first node. The first node does not participate in the simulation prior to the hot plug command. Additionally, the first node begins participation in the simulation responsive to the hot plug command.

Hot plug and hot pull system simulation

A distributed simulation system is provided in which timesteps may be divided into a first phase (referred to as the zero time phase herein) and a second phase (referred to as the real time phase herein). In the first phase, each distributed simulation node in the system may process one or more received commands without causing the simulator to evaluate the model in that distributed simulation node. In the second phase, each distributed simulation node may cause the simulator to evaluate the model in response to a command supplying one or more signal values to the model. In one embodiment, the second phase may iterate the evaluation of the model for each command received which supplies signal values. Each iteration may optionally include transmitting a command including the output signal values produced by the model during that iteration.

Distributed simulation system having phases of a timestep

A distributed simulation system includes a plurality of nodes. Each node is configured to simulate a portion of a system under test. The simulation is performed as a series of timesteps. The transition between timesteps is synchronized in the plurality of nodes. In one implementation, the distributed simulation system includes a hub which is configured to synchronize the transition between timesteps in the plurality of nodes. For example, in one embodiment, the hub may receive commands from each of the plurality of nodes. If each command indicates that the corresponding node is capable of completing the timestep, the hub transmits a command to each node indicating that the timestep is complete. The nodes may begin processing the next timestep in response to the command. In other embodiments, a hub may not be included.

Synchronization of distributed simulation nodes by keeping timestep schedulers in lockstep

An apparatus and method for electronically generating colorized characters for display by an external video display device wherein a user can specify one or more characters to be displayed, one or more curves, and one or more colorization functions which specify the colors of a pixel of the character to be displayed at a distance defined by a distance function. The apparatus reads the character defining data for the character to be displayed and generates and outputs electronic colorization data for each pixel of the character by electronically calculating the colorization function as a function of the distance defined by the distance function for the specified curve or curves.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Carl B Frankel