Skip to main content

Statecharts-Based JADE Agents and Tools for Engineering Multi-Agent Systems

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 6276))

Abstract

In this paper we propose frameworks and tools supporting a Statecharts-based development of JADE-based multi-agent systems (MASs) with the purpose of providing an effective approach for engineering MASs and leveraging agent-oriented development methodologies and processes adopting JADE as target agent platform. In particular, a framework for programming JADE behaviors through a variant of the Statecharts, named Distilled StateCharts (DSCs), has been first developed by enhancing the JADE add-on HSMBehaviour. Then, to enable rapid prototyping of JADE agents, a visual tool for DSCs has been extended with translation rules based on the developed framework which allows to automatically translate DSC specifications into DSC-based JADE behaviors. The proposed approach is exemplified through a case study concerning an agent-based meeting organization system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Zambonelli, F., Omicini, A.: Challenges and Research Directions in Agent-Oriented Software Engineering. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems 9(3), 253–283 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Ambler, S.W.: The Elements of UML 2. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Harel, D., Gery, E.: Executable Object Modeling with Statecharts. IEEE Computer 30(7), 31–42 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Luck, M., McBurney, P., Preist, C.: A manifesto for agent technology: towards next generation computing. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems 9(3), 203–252 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bellifemine, F., Caire, G., Greenwood, D.: Developing Multi-Agent Systems with JADE. Wiley, Chichester (2007)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  6. Griss, M., Fonseca, S., Cowan, D., Kessler, R.: SmartAgent: Extending the JADE agent behavior model. In: Proc. of the Agent Oriented Software Engineering Workshop, Conference in Systems, Cybernetics and Informatics, Orlando, Florida (July 2002)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Fortino, G., Garro, A., Mascillaro, S., Russo, W.: Using Event-driven Lightweight DSC-based Agents for MAS Modeling. International Journal on Agent Oriented Software Engineering 4(2) (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Boloni, L., Marinescu, D.C.: A component agent model – from theory to implementation. In: Müller, J., Petta, P. (eds.) Proc. of the Second International Symposium from Agent Theory to Agent Implementation; Trappl, R. (ed.): Proc. of Cybernetics and Systems, pp. 663–639. Austrian Society of Cybernetic Studies, Vienna (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bellifemine, F., Poggi, A., Rimassa, G.: Developing multi agent systems with a FIPA-compliant agent framework. Software Practice and Experience 31, 103–128 (2001)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  10. Griss, M., Fonseca, S., Cowan, D., Kessler, R.: Using UML State Machines Models for More Precise and Flexible JADE Agent Behaviors. In: AAMAS AOSE workshop, Bologna, Italy (July 2002)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kessler, R., Griss, M., Remick, B., Delucchi, R.: A Hierarchical State Machine using JADE Behaviours with Animation Visualization. Technical report, University of Utah (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Fortino, G., Russo, W., Zimeo, E.: A statecharts-based software development process for mobile agents. Information and Software Technology 46(13), 907–921 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Fortino, G., Garro, A., Mascillaro, S., Russo, W.: ELDATool: A Statecharts-based Tool for Prototyping Multi-Agent Systems. In: Proc. of the Workshop on Objects and Agents (WOA 2007), Genova, Italy, September 24-25 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Nwana, H., Nduma, D., Lee, L., Collis, J.: ZEUS: a toolkit for building distributed multi-agent systems. Artificial Intelligence Journal 13(1), 129–186 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Cost, R., Finin, T., Labrou, Y., Luan, X., Peng, Y., Soboroff, I., Mayfield, J., Boughannam, A.: Jackal: A Java-Based Tool for Agent Development. In: Working Notes of the Workshop on Tools for Developing Agents, AAAI 1998 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  16. García-Magariño, I., Gómez-Sanz, J.J., Fuentes-Fernández, R.: Model Transformations for Improving Multi-agent Systems Development in INGENIAS. In: Proc. of the 10th International Workshop on Agent-Oriented Software Engineering, AOSE 2009 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Cossentino, M.: From Requirements to Code with the PASSI Methodology. In: Henderson-Sellers, B., Giorgini, P. (eds.) Agent-Oriented Methodologies. Idea Group Inc., Hershey (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Caire, G., Coulier, W., Garijo, F., Gómez-Sanz, J., Pavón, J., Kearney, P., Massonet, P.: The Message Methodology. In: Bergenti, F., Gleizes, M.-P., Zambonelli, F. (eds.) Methodologies and Software Engineering for Agent Systems The Agent-Oriented Software Engineering Handbook, vol. 11, pp. 177–194. Springer, Heidelberg (2006)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  19. Eshuis, R.: Reconciling statechart semantics. Science of Computer Programming 74(3), 65–99 (2009)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  20. FIPA (Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents), FIPA Agent Management Support for Mobility Specification, Document FIPA DC00087C (2002/05/10) (2002) , http://www.fipa.org/

  21. Fonseca, S., Griss, M., Letsinger, R.: Agent Behavior Architectures A MAS Framework Comparison, Technical report, N. HPL-2001-332, University of Utah (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  22. The JADE DistilledStateChartBehaviour (2010) documentation and software at, http://plasma.deis.unical.it/software/DSC4JADE/

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Fortino, G., Rango, F., Russo, W. (2010). Statecharts-Based JADE Agents and Tools for Engineering Multi-Agent Systems. In: Setchi, R., Jordanov, I., Howlett, R.J., Jain, L.C. (eds) Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Information and Engineering Systems. KES 2010. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 6276. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15387-7_28

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15387-7_28

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-15386-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-15387-7

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics