Extended self-reproducible Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism using hidden inheritance

In system modeling and simulation, a reproducible parent object can transfer its properties to a child object, allowing the inherited child to represent the characteristics of its parent. In this paper, we propose the use of an extended Self-Reproducible Discrete Event System Specifications (SR-DEVS) modeling formalism, which is characterized by a coupled (equivalent) parent–child hereditary relationship. Yet, contrary to other existing schemes, we consider the hidden mechanism of the inheritance process. When modeling a self-growing overall system in which a component object reproduces an offspring object, the hereditary formalism elaboration from one generation to the next normally displays the system architecture and modeling characteristics. Thus, a parent component object passes its structural properties to its child components so that the overall growing system expresses a continuous self-identity and similarity. However, in the presence of a hidden inheritance mechanism, an inherited asset may be concealed or its proper function may not be outwardly clear, even after its inheritance by the child object. In this work, we investigate a case study that applies the proposed model to the simulation of a social evolution model, using social behaviors related to online shopping.