3,682 research outputs found
Representing Conversations for Scalable Overhearing
Open distributed multi-agent systems are gaining interest in the academic
community and in industry. In such open settings, agents are often coordinated
using standardized agent conversation protocols. The representation of such
protocols (for analysis, validation, monitoring, etc) is an important aspect of
multi-agent applications. Recently, Petri nets have been shown to be an
interesting approach to such representation, and radically different approaches
using Petri nets have been proposed. However, their relative strengths and
weaknesses have not been examined. Moreover, their scalability and suitability
for different tasks have not been addressed. This paper addresses both these
challenges. First, we analyze existing Petri net representations in terms of
their scalability and appropriateness for overhearing, an important task in
monitoring open multi-agent systems. Then, building on the insights gained, we
introduce a novel representation using Colored Petri nets that explicitly
represent legal joint conversation states and messages. This representation
approach offers significant improvements in scalability and is particularly
suitable for overhearing. Furthermore, we show that this new representation
offers a comprehensive coverage of all conversation features of FIPA
conversation standards. We also present a procedure for transforming AUML
conversation protocol diagrams (a standard human-readable representation), to
our Colored Petri net representation
A group learning management method for intelligent tutoring systems
In this paper we propose a group management specification and execution method that seeks a compromise between simple course design and complex adaptive group interaction. This is achieved through an authoring method that proposes predefined scenarios to the author. These scenarios already include complex learning interaction protocols in which student and group models use and update are automatically included. The method adopts ontologies to represent domain and student models, and object Petri nets to specify the group interaction protocols. During execution, the method is supported by a multi-agent architecture
Socionic Multi-Agent Systems Based on Reflexive Petri Nets and Theories of Social Self-Organisation
This contribution summarises the core results of the transdisciplinary ASKO project, part of the German DFG's programme Sozionik, which combines sociologists' and computer scientists' skills in order to create improved theories and models of artificial societies. Our research group has (a) formulated a social theory, which is able to explain fundamental mechanisms of self-organisation in both natural and artificial societies, (b) modelled this in a mathematical way using a visual formalism, and (c) developed a novel multi-agent system architecture which is conceptually coherent, recursively structured (hence non-eclectic) and based on our social theory. The article presents an outline of both a sociological middle-range theory of social self-organisation in educational institutions, its formal, Petri net based model, including a simulation of one of its main mechanisms, and the multi-agent system architecture SONAR. It describes how the theory was created by a re-analysis of some grand social theories, by grounding it empirically, and finally how the theory was evaluated by modelling its concepts and statements.Multi-Agents Systems, Petri Nets, Self-Organisation, Social Theories
A language for information commerce processes
Automatizing information commerce requires languages to represent the typical information commerce processes. Existing languages and standards cover either only very specific types of business models or are too general to capture in a concise way the specific properties of information commerce processes. We introduce a language that is specifically designed for information commerce. It can be directly used for the implementation of the processes and communication required in information commerce. It allows to cover existing business models that are known either from standard proposals or existing information commerce applications on the Internet. The language has a concise logical semantics. In this paper we present the language concepts and an implementation architecture
Using Colored Stochastic Petri Net (CS-PN) software for protocol specification, validation, and evaluation
The specification, verification, validation, and evaluation, which make up the different steps of the CS-PN software are outlined. The colored stochastic Petri net software is applied to a Wound/Wait protocol decomposable into two principal modules: request or couple (transaction, granule) treatment module and wound treatment module. Each module is specified, verified, validated, and then evaluated separately, to deduce a verification, validation and evaluation of the complete protocol. The colored stochastic Petri nets tool is shown to be a natural extension of the stochastic tool, adapted to distributed systems and protocols, because the color conveniently takes into account the numerous sites, transactions, granules and messages
Hybrid performance modelling of opportunistic networks
We demonstrate the modelling of opportunistic networks using the process
algebra stochastic HYPE. Network traffic is modelled as continuous flows,
contact between nodes in the network is modelled stochastically, and
instantaneous decisions are modelled as discrete events. Our model describes a
network of stationary video sensors with a mobile ferry which collects data
from the sensors and delivers it to the base station. We consider different
mobility models and different buffer sizes for the ferries. This case study
illustrates the flexibility and expressive power of stochastic HYPE. We also
discuss the software that enables us to describe stochastic HYPE models and
simulate them.Comment: In Proceedings QAPL 2012, arXiv:1207.055
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