Abstract
To provide inter-operability between heterogeneous agents in open systems, a commonly understood agent communication language (ACL) is used. To ensure that it is commonly understood, a formal semantics for the ACL is required. In this paper, we explore ideas from the semantics of natual language dialogues for defining the meaning of ACL messages. Using a general semantic framework for characterising the semantics of a class of ACLs in terms of protocols, we introduce a method for designing an ACL for a particular application. We illustrate this idea with respect to a small ACL called sACL. The advantages of this approach are that the specification is considerably less complex and more general, the potential for interoperability is improved, and verification of compliance to the semantics is easier.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
C. Castelfranchi. Commitments: From individual intentions to groups and organizations. In V. Lesser, editor, Proceedings ICMAS-95. AAAI-MIT Press, 1995.
P. Cohen and H. Levesque. Communicative actions for artificial agents. In V. Lesser, editor, Proceedings ICMAS95. AAAI Press, 1995.
T. Finin, Y. Labrou, and J. Mayfield. KQML as an agent communication language. In J. Bradshaw, editor, Software Agents. MIT Press, 1995.
FIPA. Fipa’97 specification part 2: Agent communication language. FIPA (Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents), http://drogo.cselt.stet.it/fipa/, 1997.
J. Galliers. Autonomous belief revision and communication. In P. Gardenfors, editor, Belief Revision. Cambridge University Press, 1992.
F. Guenthner. From sentences to discourse: Some aspects of the computational treatment of language. In A. Blaser, editor, Natural Language at the Computer, volume 320 of LNCS, pages 147–165. Springer-Verlag, 1988.
Y. Labrou and T. Finin. Semantics for an agent communication language. In M. Singh, A. Rao, and M. Wooldridge, editors, Intelligent Agents IV, volume 1365 of LNAI. Springer-Verlag, 1998.
J. Pitt, M. Anderton, and J. Cunningham. Normalized interactions between autonomous agents: A case study in inter-organizational project management. Computer-Supported Cooperative Work, 5:201–222, 1996.
J. Pitt and A. Mamdani. A protocol-based semantics for an agent communication language. In Proceedings IJCAI’99. Stockholm, Sweden, to appear.
J. Pitt and K. Prouskas. Initial specification of multi-agent system for realisation of load control and overload protection strategy. MARINER Project (EU ACTS AC333) Deliverable D3, http://www.teltec.dcu.ie/mariner, 1998.
D. Sadek. Dialogue acts are rational plans. In Proceedings ESCA/ETRW Workshop on The Structure of Multimodal Dialogue, pages 1–29. Maratea, Italy, 1991.
M. Singh. Agent communication languages: Rethinking the principles. IEEE Computer, pages 40–47, 1998.
I. Smith, P. Cohen, J. Bradshaw, M. Greaves, and H. Holmback. Designing conversation policies using joint intention theory. In Y. Demazeau, editor, Proceedings ICSMAS98. IEEE Press, 1998.
M. Wooldridge. Verifiable semantics for agent communication languages. In Y. Demazeau, editor, Proceedings ICMAS98. IEEE Press, 1998.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1999 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Pitt, J., Mamdani, A. (1999). Designing Agent Communication Languages for Multi-agent Systems. In: Garijo, F.J., Boman, M. (eds) Multi-Agent System Engineering. MAAMAW 1999. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 1647. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-48437-X_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-48437-X_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-66281-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-48437-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive