Integration of control and building performance simulation software by run-time coupling

This paper presents the background, approach and initial results of a project, which aims to  achieve better integrated building and systems control modeling in building performance simulation by run- time coupling of distributed computer programs. This paper focuses on one of the essential steps towards this goal, namely the communication mechanism between two or more different software tools and/or platforms. Various options for this inter- process communication are described and compared. The paper finishes with indicating future work which includes a suggestion for establishing mappings between d ta structures in the different data-parallel programs.