PASSIM: a simulation-based process for the development of multi-agent systems

Massimo Cossentino, Giancarlo Fortino, Alfredo Garro, Samuele Mascillaro, Wilma Russo

This paper presents the Process for Agent Specification, Simulation and Implementation (PASSIM), a simulation-based development process for Multi-agent Systems (MASs), which was obtained by integrating the well-known and established Process for Agent Societies Specification and Implementation (PASSI) methodology and a Statecharts-based simulation methodology supporting functional and nonfunctional validation of the MAS being developed. PASSIM can be effectively used as an experimental tool in the context of Agent Oriented Software Engineering (AOSE) for evaluating the benefits of using simulation for MAS development. To exemplify this process and demonstrate its effectiveness, a case study concerning the analysis, design and simulation of a complex MAS implementing an agent-based e-marketplace is defined and detailed.

(keywords) multi-agent systems; MASs; agent-oriented software engineering; AOSE; discrete-event simulation; method engineering; agent-based systems; agent specification; agent simulation; agent implementation; e-marketplace.

International Journal of Agent-Oriented Software Engineering 2(2), pages 132-170, 2008, Inderscience

@article{passim-ijaose2,
	Author = {Cossentino, Massimo and Fortino, Giancarlo and Garro, Alfredo and Mascillaro, Samuele and Russo, Wilma},
	Doi = {10.1504/IJAOSE.2008.017313},
	Issn = {1746-1375},
	Issn-Online = {1746-1383},
	Journal = {International Journal of Agent-Oriented Software Engineering},
	Number = 2,
	Pages = {132--170},
	Title = {{PASSIM}: A Simulation-based Process for the Development of Multi-Agent Systems},
	Url = {http://www.inderscience.com/info/inarticle.php?artid=17313},
	Volume = 2,
	Year = 2008}