Methods and apparatus for simulating a distributed business process

摘要

Methods and apparatus for simulating a distributed business process are disclosed. The methods and apparatus simulate an interdependent business process, such as a financial transaction system, in a secure distributed manner. Each business entity that is part of the interdependent business process models itself on a local client device at any chosen level of detail. A simulation server connects the separate client based simulations into one large simulation. Details of each local simulation may be hidden from other simulation participants. However, interruptions in business flow caused by simulated disruptions introduced at the simulation server and/or a client device are propagated to all of the effected simulation participants via the simulation server. In addition, if a client based model is not available, the server supplies a software agent to replace the inputs and outputs normally associated with that portion of the overall simulation.

主权项

1. A method of executing a business process simulation, the method comprising:
executing a first portion of the business process simulation at a first client device; executing a second different portion of the business process simulation at a second client device; executing a third portion of the business process simulation at a third client device, the third portion of the business process simulation having an indirect influence on the first portion of the business process simulation via the second portion of the business process simulation; and executing a software program on a simulation server, the software program determining simulation data associated with the first client device, the second client device, and the third client device, wherein the software program facilitates creation of a simulation model that includes a first plurality of simulation model details to be exposed to a simulation participant and a second plurality of simulation model details to be hidden from the simulation participant.