ICIC 2005: Advances in Intelligent Computing pp 218-227 | Cite as
π-Net ADL: An Architecture Description Language for Multi-agent Systems
Abstract
Multi-agent systems (MAS) are studied from the point of view of software architecture. As the existing architecture description languages (ADLs) are difficult to describe the semantics of MAS, a novel architecture description language for MAS (π-net ADL) rooted in BDI model is proposed, which adopts π-calculus and Object-Oriented Petri nets presented in this paper as a formal basis. π-net ADL stresses the description of dynamic MAS architecture, and it is brought directly into the design phase and served as the high-level design for MAS implementation. π-net ADL can visually and intuitively depict a formal framework from the agent level and society level, and analyze, simulate and validate MAS and interactions among agents. Finally, to illustrate the favorable representation and analysis capability of π-net ADL, an example of multi-agent systems in electronic commerce is provided.
Keywords
Multiagent System Architecture Description Buyer Agent Seller Agent Architecture Description LanguagePreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
- 1.Wooldridge, M.J., Jennings, N.R.: Agent Theories, Architectures, and Languages: a Survey, vol. 890, pp. 1–32. Springer, Heidelberg (1995)Google Scholar
- 2.Wooldridge, M.J., Jennings, N.R.: Intelligent Agents: Theory and Practice. Knowledge Engineering Review 10, 115–152 (1995)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 3.Jiao, W., Zhou, M., Wang, Q.: Formal Framework for Adaptive Multi-Agent Systems. In: Proceedings of the IEEE/WIC International Conference on Intelligent Agent Technology, Beijing, pp. 442–446 (2003)Google Scholar
- 4.Brazier, F.M.T., Dunin-Keplicz, B.M., Jennings, N.R., Treur, J.: Desire: Modelling Multi-Agent Systems in a Compositional Formal Framework. International Journal of Cooperative Information Systems 1, 67–94 (1997)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 5.Xu, H., Shatz, S.M.: A Framework for Model-Based Design of Agent-Oriented Software. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering 29, 15–30 (2003)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 6.Luck, M., d’Inverno, M.: A Formal Framework for Agency and Autonomy. In: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Multi-Agent Systems, San Francisco, pp. 254–260 (1995)Google Scholar
- 7.Fisher, M., Wooldridge, M.: On the Formal Specification and Verification of Multi-Agent Systems. International Journal of Cooperative Information Systems 1, 37–65 (1997)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 8.Zhu, H.: Slabs: A Formal Specification Language for Agent-Based Systems. International Journal Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering 11, 529–558 (2001)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 9.Wooldridge, M., Jennings, N.R., Kinny, D.: The Gaia Methodology for Agent- Oriented Analysis and Design. International Journal of Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems 3, 285–312 (2000)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 10.DeLoach, S.A.: Multiagent Systems Engineering. In: Proceedings of Agent Oriented Information Systems, Stockholm, pp. 45–57 (2000)Google Scholar
- 11.Odell, J., Parunak, H.V.D., Bauer, B.: Representing Agent Interaction Protocols in UML. In: Proceedings of the First International Workshop on Agent Oriented Software Engineering, Limerick, pp. 121–140 (2001)Google Scholar
- 12.Medvidovic, N., Taylor, R.N.: A Classification and Comparison Framework for Software Architecture Description Languages. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering 26, 70–93 (2000)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 13.Murata, T.: Petri Nets: Properties, Analysis, and Application. Proceedings of the IEEE 77, 541–580 (1989)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 14.Saldhana, J.A., Shatz, S.M.: Formalization of Object Behavior and Interactions from UML Models. International Journal of Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering 11, 643–673 (2001)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 15.Kavi, K.M., Aborizka, M., Kung, D.: A Framework for Designing, Modeling and Analyzing Aagent Based Software Systems. In: Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Algorithms and Architectures for Parallel Processing, Beijing, pp. 196–200 (2002)Google Scholar
- 16.Sangiorgi, D., Walker, D.: The Pi-Calculus: a Theory of Mobile Processes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2001)MATHGoogle Scholar
- 17.Jiao, W., Shi, Z.: A Dynamic Architecture for Multi-Agent Systems. In: Proceedings of Technology of Object-Oriented Languages and Systems, Nanjing, pp. 253–260 (1999)Google Scholar