Abstract In this paper we study tools for conviviality to develop user-friendly multiagent system... more Abstract In this paper we study tools for conviviality to develop user-friendly multiagent systems. First, we show how to use the social-cognitive concept of conviviality in multiagent system technology by relating it to agent power and social dependence networks. Second, we define conviviality masks as transformations of social dependencies by hiding power relations and social structures to facilitate social interactions. Third, we introduce dynamic dependence networks to model the creation of conviviality using conviviality masks. We ...
In this thesis, we introduce the methodology and techniques of meta-argumentation to model argume... more In this thesis, we introduce the methodology and techniques of meta-argumentation to model argumentation. The methodology of metaargumentation instantiates Dung's abstract argumentation theory with an extended argumentation theory, and it is thus based on a combination of the methodology of instantiating abstract arguments, and the methodology of extending Dung's basic argumentation frameworks with other relations among abstract arguments. The technique of meta-argumentation applies Dung's theory of abstract argumentation to itself, by instantiating Dung's abstract arguments with meta-arguments using a technique called flattening. We characterize the domain of instantiation using a representation technique based on soundness and completeness. Finally, we distinguish among various instantiations using the technique of specification languages. We illustrate the methodology and techniques of meta-argumentation on three challenges in formal argumentation: the representation of subsumption relation among arguments in argument ontologies and bipolar argumentation, the merging of argumentation frameworks in multi-agent argumentation and dialogue and the arguing about reciprocity-based coalitions that may emerge in social networks.
Trust minimizes the uncertainty in the interactions among the information sources. To express the... more Trust minimizes the uncertainty in the interactions among the information sources. To express the possibly conflicting motivations about trust and distrust, we reason about trust using argumentation theory. First, we show how to model the sources and how to attack untrustworthy sources. Second, we provide a focused representation of trust about the sources in which trust concerns not only the sources but also the information items and the relation with other information.
In this paper we introduce a theory of meta-argumentation, by using Dung's theory of abstract arg... more In this paper we introduce a theory of meta-argumentation, by using Dung's theory of abstract argumentation to reason about itself. Metaarguments are generated from atomic arguments, and extensions of acceptable meta-arguments are based on Dung's argumentation semantics. To illustrate our theory, we show how to represent Toulmin schemes in this theory by introducing meta-arguments using the Caminada labeling, and metaarguments for support.
Cooperative boolean games are coalitional games with both goals and costs associated to actions, ... more Cooperative boolean games are coalitional games with both goals and costs associated to actions, and dependence networks for boolean games are a kind of social networks representing how the actions of other agents have an influence on the achievement of an agent's goal. In this paper, we introduce two new types of dependence networks, called the abstract dependence network and the refined dependence network. Moreover, we show that the notion of stability is complete with respect to the solution concept of the core in the case of cooperative boolean games with costly actions. We present a reduction, called ∆-reduction, to pass from a cooperative boolean game G to game G without loosing solutions.
Social networks are structures that aim to represent the relationships among the actors of a soci... more Social networks are structures that aim to represent the relationships among the actors of a society. In the multiagent model, these networks depict the dependencies among the agents. The dependencies reflect the relation between the goals of agents and agents who have the power to achieve them. Like any social structure, also a multiagent system have to be regulated by a set of norms and institutional powers that form an institution. Differently than informal social networks, the institutional social structure has an inherent dynamic character which cannot be captured by the current dependence networks. The networks have to reflect the changes of dependencies among agents created by the exercise of institutional powers. The aim of this paper is to define more dynamic social networks. From a description of an agent system it is possible to build a static dependence network. In the same way we describe how to pass from an abstract representation of what is an institution with its institutional powers to a dynamic social dependence network.
In this paper we present a new model for the requirements analysis of a system. This is a new mod... more In this paper we present a new model for the requirements analysis of a system. This is a new model based on the multiagent systems paradigm with the aim to support the requirements analysis phase of systems design. This model offers a structured approach to requirements analysis, based on conceptual models defined following a visual modeling language, called dependence networks. The main elements of this visual language are the agents with their goals, capabilities and facts, similarly to the TROPOS methodology . The normative component is present both in the ontology and in the conceptual metamodel, associating agents to roles they play inside the system and a set of goals, capabilities and facts proper of these roles. This improvement allows to define different types of dependence networks, called dynamic dependence networks and conditional dependence networks, representing the different phases of the requirements analysis of the system. This paper presents a requirements analysis model based on normative concepts such as obligation and institution. Our model is a model of semiformal specification featured by an ontology, a meta-model, a graphical notation and a set of constraints. Our model, moreover, allows the definition of the notion of coalition for the different kinds of network.
Support in Abstract Argumentation Outline Bipolar argumentation frameworks Methodology Meta-Argum... more Support in Abstract Argumentation Outline Bipolar argumentation frameworks Methodology Meta-Argumentation Support using meta-argumentation Deductive support Defeasible support Conclusions Summary Future research Support in Abstract Argumentation Outline Support: a controversial notion "The moment we want to believe something, we suddenly see all the arguments for it, and become blind to the arguments against it." George Bernard Shaw Dung's notion of defence: a → b and b → c Premises and conclusion: a 1 : {y , y → x}, a 2 : {x, x → k}
In this paper we present a new model, called NorMAS-RE, for the requirements analysis of a system... more In this paper we present a new model, called NorMAS-RE, for the requirements analysis of a system. NorMAS-RE is a new model based on the multiagent systems paradigm with the aim to support the requirements analysis phase of systems design. This model offers a structured approach to requirements analysis, based on conceptual models defined following a visual modeling language, called dependence networks. The main elements of this visual language are the agents with their goals, capabilities and facts, similarly to the TROPOS methodology . The normative component is present both in the ontology and in the conceptual metamodel, associating agents to roles they play inside the systems and a set of goals, capabilities and facts proper of these roles. This improvement allows to define different types of dependence networks, called dynamic dependence networks and conditional dependence networks, representing the different phases of the requirements analysis of the system. This paper presents a requirements analysis model based on normative concepts such as obligation and institution. The NorMAS-RE model is a model of semiformal specification featured by an ontology, a meta-model, a graphical notation and a set of constraints. Our model, moreover, allows the definition of the notion of coalition for the different kinds of network. We present our model using the scenario of virtual organizations based on a Grid network.
In this paper we present a new model for the requirements analysis of a system. We offer a concep... more In this paper we present a new model for the requirements analysis of a system. We offer a conceptual model defined following a visual modeling language, called dependence networks. TROPOS uses a visual modeling language called dependence networks in the requirements analysis of a system, and in this paper we propose a new conceptual model extending dependence networks with norms. This improvement allows to define a new type of dependence networks, called conditional dependence networks, representing a new modeling technique for the requirements analysis of a system. Our model, moreover, allows the definition of coalition depending on different kinds of networks. We illustrate our model using the scenario of virtual organizations based on a Grid network.
Coalitions are usually defined with respect to a static framework of dependencies among agents. I... more Coalitions are usually defined with respect to a static framework of dependencies among agents. In this paper we propose a dynamic view of dependence networks to enable dynamic coalitions which can self adapt to a situation by exploiting the possibility to trigger other agents' goals.
Abstract In this paper we study tools for conviviality to develop user-friendly multiagent system... more Abstract In this paper we study tools for conviviality to develop user-friendly multiagent systems. First, we show how to use the social-cognitive concept of conviviality in multiagent system technology by relating it to agent power and social dependence networks. Second, we define conviviality masks as transformations of social dependencies by hiding power relations and social structures to facilitate social interactions. Third, we introduce dynamic dependence networks to model the creation of conviviality using conviviality masks. We ...
In this thesis, we introduce the methodology and techniques of meta-argumentation to model argume... more In this thesis, we introduce the methodology and techniques of meta-argumentation to model argumentation. The methodology of metaargumentation instantiates Dung's abstract argumentation theory with an extended argumentation theory, and it is thus based on a combination of the methodology of instantiating abstract arguments, and the methodology of extending Dung's basic argumentation frameworks with other relations among abstract arguments. The technique of meta-argumentation applies Dung's theory of abstract argumentation to itself, by instantiating Dung's abstract arguments with meta-arguments using a technique called flattening. We characterize the domain of instantiation using a representation technique based on soundness and completeness. Finally, we distinguish among various instantiations using the technique of specification languages. We illustrate the methodology and techniques of meta-argumentation on three challenges in formal argumentation: the representation of subsumption relation among arguments in argument ontologies and bipolar argumentation, the merging of argumentation frameworks in multi-agent argumentation and dialogue and the arguing about reciprocity-based coalitions that may emerge in social networks.
Trust minimizes the uncertainty in the interactions among the information sources. To express the... more Trust minimizes the uncertainty in the interactions among the information sources. To express the possibly conflicting motivations about trust and distrust, we reason about trust using argumentation theory. First, we show how to model the sources and how to attack untrustworthy sources. Second, we provide a focused representation of trust about the sources in which trust concerns not only the sources but also the information items and the relation with other information.
In this paper we introduce a theory of meta-argumentation, by using Dung's theory of abstract arg... more In this paper we introduce a theory of meta-argumentation, by using Dung's theory of abstract argumentation to reason about itself. Metaarguments are generated from atomic arguments, and extensions of acceptable meta-arguments are based on Dung's argumentation semantics. To illustrate our theory, we show how to represent Toulmin schemes in this theory by introducing meta-arguments using the Caminada labeling, and metaarguments for support.
Cooperative boolean games are coalitional games with both goals and costs associated to actions, ... more Cooperative boolean games are coalitional games with both goals and costs associated to actions, and dependence networks for boolean games are a kind of social networks representing how the actions of other agents have an influence on the achievement of an agent's goal. In this paper, we introduce two new types of dependence networks, called the abstract dependence network and the refined dependence network. Moreover, we show that the notion of stability is complete with respect to the solution concept of the core in the case of cooperative boolean games with costly actions. We present a reduction, called ∆-reduction, to pass from a cooperative boolean game G to game G without loosing solutions.
Social networks are structures that aim to represent the relationships among the actors of a soci... more Social networks are structures that aim to represent the relationships among the actors of a society. In the multiagent model, these networks depict the dependencies among the agents. The dependencies reflect the relation between the goals of agents and agents who have the power to achieve them. Like any social structure, also a multiagent system have to be regulated by a set of norms and institutional powers that form an institution. Differently than informal social networks, the institutional social structure has an inherent dynamic character which cannot be captured by the current dependence networks. The networks have to reflect the changes of dependencies among agents created by the exercise of institutional powers. The aim of this paper is to define more dynamic social networks. From a description of an agent system it is possible to build a static dependence network. In the same way we describe how to pass from an abstract representation of what is an institution with its institutional powers to a dynamic social dependence network.
In this paper we present a new model for the requirements analysis of a system. This is a new mod... more In this paper we present a new model for the requirements analysis of a system. This is a new model based on the multiagent systems paradigm with the aim to support the requirements analysis phase of systems design. This model offers a structured approach to requirements analysis, based on conceptual models defined following a visual modeling language, called dependence networks. The main elements of this visual language are the agents with their goals, capabilities and facts, similarly to the TROPOS methodology . The normative component is present both in the ontology and in the conceptual metamodel, associating agents to roles they play inside the system and a set of goals, capabilities and facts proper of these roles. This improvement allows to define different types of dependence networks, called dynamic dependence networks and conditional dependence networks, representing the different phases of the requirements analysis of the system. This paper presents a requirements analysis model based on normative concepts such as obligation and institution. Our model is a model of semiformal specification featured by an ontology, a meta-model, a graphical notation and a set of constraints. Our model, moreover, allows the definition of the notion of coalition for the different kinds of network.
Support in Abstract Argumentation Outline Bipolar argumentation frameworks Methodology Meta-Argum... more Support in Abstract Argumentation Outline Bipolar argumentation frameworks Methodology Meta-Argumentation Support using meta-argumentation Deductive support Defeasible support Conclusions Summary Future research Support in Abstract Argumentation Outline Support: a controversial notion "The moment we want to believe something, we suddenly see all the arguments for it, and become blind to the arguments against it." George Bernard Shaw Dung's notion of defence: a → b and b → c Premises and conclusion: a 1 : {y , y → x}, a 2 : {x, x → k}
In this paper we present a new model, called NorMAS-RE, for the requirements analysis of a system... more In this paper we present a new model, called NorMAS-RE, for the requirements analysis of a system. NorMAS-RE is a new model based on the multiagent systems paradigm with the aim to support the requirements analysis phase of systems design. This model offers a structured approach to requirements analysis, based on conceptual models defined following a visual modeling language, called dependence networks. The main elements of this visual language are the agents with their goals, capabilities and facts, similarly to the TROPOS methodology . The normative component is present both in the ontology and in the conceptual metamodel, associating agents to roles they play inside the systems and a set of goals, capabilities and facts proper of these roles. This improvement allows to define different types of dependence networks, called dynamic dependence networks and conditional dependence networks, representing the different phases of the requirements analysis of the system. This paper presents a requirements analysis model based on normative concepts such as obligation and institution. The NorMAS-RE model is a model of semiformal specification featured by an ontology, a meta-model, a graphical notation and a set of constraints. Our model, moreover, allows the definition of the notion of coalition for the different kinds of network. We present our model using the scenario of virtual organizations based on a Grid network.
In this paper we present a new model for the requirements analysis of a system. We offer a concep... more In this paper we present a new model for the requirements analysis of a system. We offer a conceptual model defined following a visual modeling language, called dependence networks. TROPOS uses a visual modeling language called dependence networks in the requirements analysis of a system, and in this paper we propose a new conceptual model extending dependence networks with norms. This improvement allows to define a new type of dependence networks, called conditional dependence networks, representing a new modeling technique for the requirements analysis of a system. Our model, moreover, allows the definition of coalition depending on different kinds of networks. We illustrate our model using the scenario of virtual organizations based on a Grid network.
Coalitions are usually defined with respect to a static framework of dependencies among agents. I... more Coalitions are usually defined with respect to a static framework of dependencies among agents. In this paper we propose a dynamic view of dependence networks to enable dynamic coalitions which can self adapt to a situation by exploiting the possibility to trigger other agents' goals.
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