Zooming Multi-Agent Systems

Complex systems call for a hierarchical description. Analogously, the engineering of non-trivial MASs (multiagent systems) requires principles and mechanisms for a multi-layered description, which could be used by MAS designers to provide different levels of abstraction over MASs. In this paper, we first advocate the need for zooming mechanisms, promoting a coherent and consistent multi-layered view of agent systems. After surveying the best-known AOSE methodologies, we focus on the scaling mechanisms of the OPM process-oriented methodology. Then, by adopting SODA as our reference, we show how an AOSE methodology can be enhanced with simple yet expressive zooming mechanisms. Finally, we present a simple case study where the enhanced agent-oriented methodology (SODA+zoom) is exploited and put to the test.

reference talk

 Zooming Multi-Agent Systems (AOSE 2005 @ AAMAS 2005, 26/07/2005) — Ambra Molesini (Ambra Molesini, Andrea Omicini, Enrico Denti, Alessandro Ricci)

origin event

 AOSE 2005 @ AAMAS 2005

journal or series

 Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS)

container publication

 Agent-Oriented Software Engineering VI (edited volume, 2006) — Jörg P. Müller, Franco Zambonelli

funding project

 AgentLink III — A Coordination Network for Agent-based Computing (01/01/2004–31/01/2006)

reference publication for talk

 Zooming Multi-Agent Systems (AOSE 2005 @ AAMAS 2005, 26/07/2005) — Ambra Molesini (Ambra Molesini, Andrea Omicini, Enrico Denti, Alessandro Ricci)

 Artefacts in Agent-Oriented Software Engineering (AL3-TF3, 16/09/2005) — Ambra Molesini (Ambra Molesini)

superseding publication for

 Zooming Multi-Agent Systems (paper in proceedings, 2005) — Ambra Molesini, Andrea Omicini, Alessandro Ricci, Enrico Denti