From concepts to agents: towards a framework for multi-agent system modelling

Whilst tools assist the various tasks required to develop a multi-agent system (MAS), yet there still remains a gap between the generation of MAS models and program code. AUML development has enabled MAS designs to be specified in detail, including the complexities of agent communication protocols, which was a shortcoming of the Unified Modelling Language (UML) standard. However, the creation of MAS designs using AUML still requires a significant amount of design expertise on the part of the designer. We describe an approach to the development of a complex healthcare information system that defines specific steps along the path to MAS implementation. In particular we explore the use of conceptual knowledge modelling techniques by means of conceptual graphs and a transactionsbased architecture for model verification during requirements gathering, together with a translation to AUML for design specification, proposing a framework to extend existing AOSE methodologies. Categories ...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2005
• Where: ATAL
• Authors: Richard Hill, Simon Polovina, Martin D. Beer
• Keywords: ATAL 2005, Conceptual Graphs, MAS Designs, Multi-agent System