Alternatives for implementing methods for finding agents in a Multi-Agent Systems

Interaction is an essential characteristic of Multi- Agent Systems (MASs). Agents that are part of a MAS usually interact by exchanging messages accord- ing to some conversation policy. Therefore, the ability to find other agents and exchange messages with them are features that need to be implemented in agents that are part of a MAS. Finding an agent means been aware of it existence and obtaining the information needed to send to it a message. There exists different alternatives of implementing the capability of finding other agents. In this work we will analyze the al- ternatives of implementing a discovery mechanism, a centralized Agent Name Server (ANS), a distributed ANS, or several ANSs.Eje: Agentes y Sistemas InteligentesRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Primitives for building interaction protocols

In this paper we propose a set of protocol primitives for the implementation of interaction protocols in Multi-agent systems. These primitives are based on the performatives most frequently used for agent interaction, and provide an abstract way of achieving conversations between agents, facilitating the creation of both standard or domain dependent interaction protocols. The proposed primitives automatically handle the exchange of messages needed to achieve the expected behavior of the interactions. Thus, the agent developer avoids the burden of implementing message processing and also the creation of messages corresponding to specifics agent communication languages. Examples of specific applications for the proposed primitives will be given.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

An extended set of interaction primitives for multi-agent systems development

The research line reported here involves the improvement of the set of interaction primitives that we have developed [8, 2] for the implementation of multi-agent systems in dynamic and distributed environments. This interaction primitives have been implemented for allowing the creation of several independent multi-agent systems, where agents communicate with others just by knowing the other agents' names. The framework includes primitives for associating the arrival of a message with the automatic execution of a Prolog predicate, thus allowing event-based programming. It also allows the implementation of standard Agent Communication Languages, and provides tools for developing standard Agent Conversation Protocols. We will first describe briefly our framework and then we will propose some improvements for it.Eje: Inteligencia artificialRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Design and implementation of a FIPA based agent communication model for a logic programming framework

In this paper we consider the design of an agent communication model based on the FIPA Architecture and FIPA Interaction Protocols. Our goal is to allow the agents to reach each other by their characteristics and to exchange messages using a standard Agent Communication Language. We propose the design and implementation of a framework as an extension of Prolog, following the spirit of Logic Programming. In our framework, the agents are allowed to register themselves in MASs in order to allow other agents to locate them easily. The agents may search for agents having specific characteristics, or providing determined services in order to interact with them.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Processing interaction protocols in parallel: a logic programming implementation for robotic soccer

In this paper we explore different situations in which collaborative agents have to communicate among themselves using standard interaction protocols. We will propose how to process these interactions in parallel without interfering with other agent's activities. Thus, agents will not have to interrupt or delay an activity for handling incoming messages, and in some cases, answers can be created and delivered immediately. Our proposal will be oriented to a robotic soccer domain with autonomous mobile robots. We will analyze three kinds of situations in which the interaction between agents plays an important role for coordination: requirements, queries and proposals. Requirements arise when an agent asks another to execute a specific action. A query is used when an agent wants to acquire certain information from another agent. Finally, proposals arise when an agent wants to synchronize with another agent for collaboration. In a realistic scenario, an agent may interact with several agents and these interactions usually proceed simultaneously with the rest of the activities of the agent. Therefore, our proposal is to process these in- teractions in parallel with the decision cycle of the agent reducing the overhead imposed by the interaction. The implementation of this approach will be done in an extended logic programming framework developed for implementing multi-agent systems.Facultad de Informátic

Design and implementation of a FIPA based agent communication model for a logic programming framework

In this paper we consider the design of an agent communication model based on the FIPA Architecture and FIPA Interaction Protocols. Our goal is to allow the agents to reach each other by their characteristics and to exchange messages using a standard Agent Communication Language. We propose the design and implementation of a framework as an extension of Prolog, following the spirit of Logic Programming. In our framework, the agents are allowed to register themselves in MASs in order to allow other agents to locate them easily. The agents may search for agents having specific characteristics, or providing determined services in order to interact with them.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Design and implementation of a FIPA based agent communication model for a logic programming framework

In this paper we consider the design of an agent communication model based on the FIPA Architecture and FIPA Interaction Protocols. Our goal is to allow the agents to reach each other by their characteristics and to exchange messages using a standard Agent Communication Language. We propose the design and implementation of a framework as an extension of Prolog, following the spirit of Logic Programming. In our framework, the agents are allowed to register themselves in MASs in order to allow other agents to locate them easily. The agents may search for agents having specific characteristics, or providing determined services in order to interact with them.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Processing interaction protocols in parallel: a logic programming implementation for robotic soccer

In this paper we analyze different forms of processing in parallel multi-agent interaction protocols. These protocols will be oriented to a robotic soccer domain with autonomous mobile robots. We will also show how to implement them in an extended logic programming framework. We will explore different situations in which the interaction between agents plays an important role, specially requirements, queries and proposals. Requirements arise when an agent asks another one to execute a specific action. A query is used when an agent wants to know certain information that another agent may have. Finally, proposals arise when an agent wants to synchronize the execution of an action with another agent. We will show one way of implementing these different types of interaction in a specific domain, such as the E-League. The E-League is a robot competition in which two teams of four robots play soccer. The robotic soccer has drawn much attention in the area of multi-agent system research and development. This complex and challenging application domain is useful in the evaluation of different kinds of developments that have been carried out in the field of mobile robotic.VI Workshop de Agentes y Sistemas Inteligentes (WASI)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Processing interaction protocols in parallel: a logic programming implementation for robotic soccer

In this paper we explore different situations in which collaborative agents have to communicate among themselves using standard interaction protocols. We will propose how to process these interactions in parallel without interfering with other agent's activities. Thus, agents will not have to interrupt or delay an activity for handling incoming messages, and in some cases, answers can be created and delivered immediately. Our proposal will be oriented to a robotic soccer domain with autonomous mobile robots. We will analyze three kinds of situations in which the interaction between agents plays an important role for coordination: requirements, queries and proposals. Requirements arise when an agent asks another to execute a specific action. A query is used when an agent wants to acquire certain information from another agent. Finally, proposals arise when an agent wants to synchronize with another agent for collaboration. In a realistic scenario, an agent may interact with several agents and these interactions usually proceed simultaneously with the rest of the activities of the agent. Therefore, our proposal is to process these in- teractions in parallel with the decision cycle of the agent reducing the overhead imposed by the interaction. The implementation of this approach will be done in an extended logic programming framework developed for implementing multi-agent systems.Facultad de Informátic

Primitives for building interaction protocols

In this paper we propose a set of protocol primitives for the implementation of interaction protocols in Multi-agent systems. These primitives are based on the performatives most frequently used for agent interaction, and provide an abstract way of achieving conversations between agents, facilitating the creation of both standard or domain dependent interaction protocols. The proposed primitives automatically handle the exchange of messages needed to achieve the expected behavior of the interactions. Thus, the agent developer avoids the burden of implementing message processing and also the creation of messages corresponding to specifics agent communication languages. Examples of specific applications for the proposed primitives will be given.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI