Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Skip to main content

A Reference Architecture for Situated Multiagent Systems

  • Conference paper
Environments for Multi-Agent Systems III (E4MAS 2006)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 4389))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

A reference architecture integrates a set of architectural patterns that have proven their value for a family of applications. Such family of applications is characterized by specific functionality and quality requirements. A reference architecture provides a blueprint for developing software architectures for applications that share that common base. As such, a reference architecture provides a means for large-scale reuse of architectural design.

This paper gives an overview of a reference architecture for situated multiagent systems we have developed in our research. We discuss various architectural views of the reference architecture. Per view, we zoom in on the main view packets, each of them containing a bundle of information of a part of the reference architecture. For each view packet we explain the rationale for the design choices that were made and we give built-in mechanisms that describe how the view packet can be exercised to build a concrete software architecture. We illustrate the use of the reference architecture with an excerpt of the software architecture of an industrial AGV transportation system.

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

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
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

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. IBM: An Architectural Blueprint for Autonomic Computing (6/2006), www-03.ibm.com/autonomic/

  2. EMC 2: Egemin Modular Controls Concept. Project Supported by the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation Through Science and Technology in Flanders (IWTVlaanderen) (8/2006) http://emc2.egemin.com/

  3. The Unified Modeling Language (8/2006), http://www.uml.org/

  4. Atkinson, C., Kuhne, T.: Aspect-Oriented Development with Stratified Frameworks. IEEE Software 20(1), 81–89 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Austin, J.: How To Do Things With Words. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bass, L., Clements, P., Kazman, R.: Software Architecture in Practice. Addison Wesley Publishing Comp., Reading (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bellifemine, F., Poggi, A., Rimassa, G.: Jade, A FIPA-compliant Agent Framework. In: 4th International Conference on Practical Application of Intelligent Agents and Multi-Agent Technology, London, UK (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Boucké, N., Weyns, D., Holvoet, T., Mertens, K.: Decentralized allocation of tasks with delayed commnencement. In: 2nd European Workshop on Multi-Agent Systems, EUMAS, Barcelona, Spain (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Boucké, N., Weyns, D., Schelfthout, K., Holvoet, T.: Applying the ATAM to an Architecture for Decentralized Contol of a AGV Transportation System. In: Hofmeister, C., Crnkovic, I., Reussner, R. (eds.) QoSA 2006. LNCS, vol. 4214, Springer, Heidelberg (2006)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Brueckner, S.: Return from the Ant, Synthetic Ecosystems for Manufacturing Control. Ph.D Dissertation, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Van Brussel, H., Wyns, J., Valckenaers, P., Bongaerts, L., Peeters, P.: Reference Architecture for Holonic Manufacturing Systems: PROSA. Jounal of Manufactoring Systems 37(3), 255–274 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Calder, M., Kolberg, M., Magill, E., Reiff-Marganiec, S.: Feature Interaction: A Critical Review and Considered Forecast. Computer Networks 41(1), 115–141 (2003)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  13. Clements, P., Bachmann, F., Bass, L., Garlan, D., Ivers, J., Little, R., Nord, R., Stafford, J.: Documenting Software Architectures: Views and Beyond. Addison Wesley Publishing Comp., Reading (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Cuesta, C., Romay del Pilar, M., de la Fuente, P., Barrio-Solorzano, M.: Architectural Aspects of Architectural Aspects. In: Cointe, P. (ed.) ECOOP 1996. LNCS, vol. 1098, Springer, Heidelberg (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  15. J. Ferber and J. Muller. Influences and Reaction: a Model of Situated Multiagent Systems. 2nd International Conference on Multi-agent Systems, Japan, AAAI Press, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  16. FIPA. Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents, FIPA Abstract Architecture Specification (8/2006), http://www.fipa.org/repository/bysubject.html

  17. Garcia, A., Kulesza, U., Lucena, C.: Aspectizing Multi-Agent Systems: From Architecture to Implementation. In: Choren, R., Garcia, A., Lucena, C., Romanovsky, A. (eds.) Software Engineering for Multi-Agent Systems III. LNCS, vol. 3390, Springer, Heidelberg (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Harel, D.: Statecharts: A Visual Formalism for Complex Systems. Science of Computer Programming 3(8), 231–274 (1987)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  19. Helsinger, A., Lazarus, R., Wright, W., Zinky, J.: Tools and Techniques for Performance Measurement of Large Distributed Multiagent Systems. In: 2nd International Joint Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems, AAMAS, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, ACM Press, New York (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Holvoet, A.: Visualisation of a Peer-to-Peer Network. Master Thesis, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Holvoet, T., Valckenaers, P.: Exploiting the Environment for Coordinating Agent Intentions. In: 3th International Workshop on Environments for Multiagent Systems, E4MAS, Hakodate, Japan (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Kendall, E., Jiang, C.: Multiagent System Design Based on Object Oriented Patterns. Journal of Object Oriented Programming 10(3), 41–47 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kephart, J., Chess, D.: The Vision of Autonomic Computing. IEEE Computer Magazine 36(1)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Kiczales, G., Lamping, J., Menhdhekar, A., Maeda, C., Lopes, C., Loingtier, J., Irwin, J.: Aspect-Oriented Programming. In: Aksit, M., Matsuoka, S. (eds.) ECOOP 1997. LNCS, vol. 1241, Springer, Heidelberg (1997)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  25. Modi, P., Mancoridis, S., Mongan, W., Regli, W., Mayk, I.: Towards a Reference Model for Agent-Based Systems. In: Industry Track of the 5th International Joint Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems, Hakodate, Japan, ACM Press, New York (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Parunak, H.V.D., Brueckner, S.: Concurrent Modeling of Alternative Worlds with Polyagents. In: 7th International Workshop on Multi-Agent-Based Simulation, Hakodate, Japan (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Rao, A., Georgeff, M.: BDI Agents: From Theory to Practice. In: 1st International Conference on Multiagent Systems, Agents, San Francisco, California, USA, MIT Press, Cambridge (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Reed, P.: Reference Architecture: The Best of Best Practices. The Rational Edge (2002), http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/rational/library/2774.html

  29. Schelfthout, K., Holvoet, T.: Views: Customizable abstractions for context-aware applications in MANETs. In: Software Engineering for Large-Scale Multi-Agent Systems, St. Louis, USA (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Schelfthout, K., Weyns, D., Holvoet, T.: Middleware that Enables Protocol-Based Coordination Applied in Automatic Guided Vehicle Control. IEEE Distributed Systems Online 7(8) (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Schols, W., Holvoet, T., Boucké, N., Weyns, D.: Gradient Field Based Transport Assignment in AGV Systems. In: CW-425, Technical Report. Departement of Computer Science, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium (2005), http://www.cs.kuleuven.ac.be/publicaties/rapporten/CW/2005

  32. Steegmans, E., Weyns, D., Holvoet, T., Berbers, Y.: A Design Process for Adaptive Behavior of Situated Agents. In: Odell, J.J., Giorgini, P., Müller, J.P. (eds.) AOSE 2004. LNCS, vol. 3382, Springer, Heidelberg (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Steegmans, E., Weyns, D., Holvoet, T., Berbers, Y.: Designing Roles for Situated Agents. In: 5th International Workshop on Agent-Oriented Software Engineering, New York, NY, USA (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Sycara, K., Paolucci, M., Van Velsen, M., Giampapa, J.: The RETSINA MAS Infrastructure. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems 7(1-2), 29–48 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Tekinerdogan, B.: ASAAM: Aspectual Software Architecture Analysis Method. In: 4th Working Conference on Software Architecture, WICSA, Oslo, Norway, IEEE Computer Society Press, Los Alamitos (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Valckenaers, P., Van Brussel, H.: Holonic Manufacturing Execution Systems. CIRP Annals-Manufacturing Technology 54(1), 427–432 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Weyns, D.: An Architecture-Centric Approach for Software Engineering with Situated Multiagent Systems. Ph.D Dissertation: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Weyns, D., Boucké, N., Holvoet, T.: Gradient Field Based Transport Assignment in AGV Systems. In: 5th International Joint Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, AAMAS, Hakodate, Japan (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Weyns, D., Helleboogh, A., Holvoet, T.: The Packet-World: a Test Bed for Investigating Situated Multi-Agent Systems. In: Software agent-based applications, platforms, and development kits. Whitestein Series in Software Agent Technology (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Weyns, D., Holvoet, T.: Model for Simultaneous Actions in Situated Multiagent Systems. In: Schillo, M., Klusch, M., Müller, J., Tianfield, H. (eds.) Multiagent System Technologies. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2831, Springer, Heidelberg (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Weyns, D., Holvoet, T.: Formal Model for Situated Multi-Agent Systems. Fundamenta Informaticae 63(1-2), 125–158 (2004)

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  42. Weyns, D., Holvoet, T.: Regional Synchronization for Situated Multi-agent Systems. In: Mařík, V., Müller, J.P., Pěchouček, M. (eds.) CEEMAS 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2691, Springer, Heidelberg (2003)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  43. Weyns, D., Holvoet, T.: Architectural Design of an Industrial AGV Transportation System with a Multiagent System Approach. In: Software Architecture Technology User Network Workshop, SATURN, Pittsburg, USA, Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Weyns, D., Schelfthout, K., Holvoet, T., Glorieux, O.: Towards Adaptive Role Selection for Behavior-Based Agents. In: Kudenko, D., Kazakov, D., Alonso, E. (eds.) Adaptive Agents and Multi-Agent Systems II. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 3394, Springer, Heidelberg (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Weyns, D., Schelfthout, K., Holvoet, T., Lefever, T.: Decentralized control of E’GV transportation systems. In: 4th Joint Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems, Industry Track, Utrecht, The Netherlands, ACM Press, New York (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  46. Weyns, D., Steegmans, E., Holvoet, T.: Integrating Free-Flow Architectures with Role Models Based on Statecharts. In: Choren, R., Garcia, A., Lucena, C., Romanovsky, A. (eds.) Software Engineering for Multi-Agent Systems III. LNCS, vol. 3390, Springer, Heidelberg (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Weyns, D., Steegmans, E., Holvoet, T.: Protocol Based Communication for Situated Multi-Agent Systems. In: 3th Joint Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, New York, USA, IEEE Computer Society Press, Los Alamitos (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Weyns, D., Steegmans, E., Holvoet, T.: Towards Active Perception in Situated Multi-Agent Systems. Applied Artificial Intelligence 18(9-10), 867–883 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Wyns, J., Van Brussel, H., Valckenaers, P., Bongaerts, L.: Workstation Architecture in Holonic Manufacturing Systems. In: 28th CIRP International Seminar on Manufacturing Systems, Johannesburg, South Africa (1996)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Danny Weyns H. Van Dyke Parunak Fabien Michel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2007 Springer Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Weyns, D., Holvoet, T. (2007). A Reference Architecture for Situated Multiagent Systems. In: Weyns, D., Parunak, H.V.D., Michel, F. (eds) Environments for Multi-Agent Systems III. E4MAS 2006. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 4389. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-71103-2_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-71103-2_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-71102-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-71103-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics