A study of computational reconfiguration in a process network

Abstract

In the process network model, the network evolves by reconfiguration. Reconfiguration changes the representation of the network. With a multi-threaded implementation of the process network system, it is necessary to coordinate concurrent accesses to the representational structure. We compare two approaches to the problem of ensuring consistency of representation during reconfiguration. One is a “localized” view, taken from the viewpoint of the process undergoing reconfiguration. The other requires a “global” view of the entire process network structure. We show how reconfiguration takes place in each case, and compare advantages and disadvantages of each.