Modelling and simulation with discrete and continuous PN: Semantics and delays

Resumen

Petri Nets (PN) constitute a paradigm for the modeling, simulation, analysis, synthesis and implementation of discrete systems, and can be interpreted as an underlying global structure common to a family of formalisms with different levels of abstraction and interpretations. Based on previous works, this paper complements the analysis of the use of PN for modeling and simulation, and the choice of the appropriate PN formalism, depending on the level of abstraction of the formalism and on the interpretative extensions they are provided with. In this work the analysis is complemented with a study of the meaning of the semantics or interpretation of timed transitions, where timing is modeled as a delay. The paper analyses the relationships between the semantics in the discrete case and in the continuized model, as well as the comparison with the continuous models of system dynamics.