Towards a Distributed, Environment-Centered Agent Framework

Abstract. This paper will discuss the internal architecture for an agent framework called DECAF (Distributed Environment Centered Agent Framework). DECAF is a software toolkit for the rapid design, development, and execution of “intelligent” agents to achieve solutions in complex software systems. From a research community perspective, DECAF provides a modular platform for evaluating and disseminating results in agent architectures, including communication, planning, scheduling, execution monitoring, coordination, diagnosis, and learning. From a user/programmer perspective, DECAF distinguishes itself by removing the focus from the underlying components of agent building such as socket creation, message formatting, and agent communication. Instead, users may quickly prototype agent systems by focusing on the domain-specific parts of the problem via a graphical plan editor, reusable generic behaviors [9], and various supporting middle-agents [10]. This paper will briefly describe t...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1999
• Where: ATAL
• Authors: John R. Graham, Keith Decker
• Keywords: Agent Framework, ATAL 1999, DECAF, Framework Called Decaf, Intelligent Agents