Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Propagating AUML Protocols to Detailed Design

  • Conference paper
Book cover Engineering Multi-Agent Systems (EMAS 2013)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 8245))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 752 Accesses

Abstract

The interaction between agents is a key aspect of multi-agent systems. AUML sequence diagrams are commonly used to specify these interactions between agents in terms of interaction protocols. Whilst most of the popular agent oriented software engineering methodologies such as Prometheus, Tropos, O-MaSE, INGENIAS and GAIA support AUML protocol specifications in the design, the supportive tools do not provide any mechanisms for ensuring that the detailed design, and consequently the implementations, faithfully follow these protocols. In this paper, we show how AUML protocol specifications in the Prometheus methodology can be automatically propagated to the detailed design of the methodology by creating appropriate artefacts. The approach is general to all design methodologies that follow the BDI model of agents. We empirically show that the manual translation of protocols to the detailed design even for a simple AUML protocol can be a tedious and error-prone task for even relatively experienced users. The evaluation shows that our automated approach address these issues to a large extent.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Arcos, J., Esteva, M., Noriega, P., Rodríguez-Aguilar, J., Sierra, C.: An integrated development environment for electronic institutions. In: Software Agent-Based Applications, Platforms and Development Kits, pp. 121–142 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bergenti, F., Poggi, A.: Exploiting UML in the design of multi-agent systems. In: Omicini, A., Tolksdorf, R., Zambonelli, F. (eds.) ESAW 2000. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 1972, pp. 106–113. Springer, Heidelberg (2000)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  3. Bresciani, P., Perini, A., Giorgini, P., Giunchiglia, F., Mylopoulos, J.: Tropos: An agent oriented software development methodology. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Saytems 8(3), 203–236 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Cernuzzi, L., Zambonelli, F.: Experiencing AUML in the GAIA methodology. In: Proceedings of the 6th ICEIS, pp. 283–288. Citeseer (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cernuzzi, L., Zambonelli, F.: GAIA4e: A tool supporting the design of mas using gaia. In: ICEIS (4), pp. 82–88 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  6. DeLoach, S., Oyenan, W., Garcia-Ojeda, J., Valenzuela, J.: O-MaSE: A customizable approach to developing multiagent development processes (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  7. DeLoach, S., Padgham, L., Perini, A., Susi, A.: Using three AOSE toolkits to develop a sample design. International Journal of Agent-Oriented Software Engineering 3(4), 416–476 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Garcia-Ojeda, J., DeLoach, S., et al.: agentTool III: from process definition to code generation. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Saytems, vol. 2, pp. 1393–1394. International Foundation for Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Saytems (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Garcia-Ojeda, J.C., DeLoach, S.A., Robby, Oyenan, W.H., Valenzuela, J.: O-maSE: A customizable approach to developing multiagent development processes. In: Luck, M., Padgham, L. (eds.) Agent-Oriented Software Engineering VIII. LNCS, vol. 4951, pp. 1–15. Springer, Heidelberg (2008)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Gomez-Sanz, J., Fuentes, R., Pavón, J., García-Magariño, I.: INGENIAS development kit: a visual multi-agent system development environment. In: Proceedings of the 7th International Joint Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Saytems: Demo Papers, pp. 1675–1676. International Foundation for Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Saytems (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Gómez-Sanz, J.J., Pavón, J.: Implementing multi-agent systems organizations with INGENIAS. In: Bordini, R.H., Dastani, M., Dix, J., El Fallah Seghrouchni, A. (eds.) PROMAS 2005. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 3862, pp. 236–251. Springer, Heidelberg (2006)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  12. Gorodetsky, V., Karsaev, O., Samoylov, V., Konushy, V.: Support for analysis, design, and implementation stages with MASDK. In: Luck, M., Gomez-Sanz, J.J. (eds.) AOSE 2008. LNCS, vol. 5386, pp. 272–287. Springer, Heidelberg (2009)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  13. Huget, M.-P., Odell, J.: Representing agent interaction protocols with agent UML. In: Odell, J.J., Giorgini, P., Müller, J.P. (eds.) AOSE 2004. LNCS, vol. 3382, pp. 16–30. Springer, Heidelberg (2005)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  14. Morandini, M., Nguyen, D.C., Perini, A., Siena, A., Susi, A.: Tool-supported development with tropos: The conference management system case study. In: Luck, M., Padgham, L. (eds.) AOSE 2007. LNCS, vol. 4951, pp. 182–196. Springer, Heidelberg (2008)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  15. Odell, J.J., Van Dyke Parunak, H., Bauer, B.: Representing agent interaction protocols in UML. In: Ciancarini, P., Wooldridge, M.J. (eds.) AOSE 2000. LNCS, vol. 1957, pp. 121–140. Springer, Heidelberg (2001)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  16. Padgham, L., Thangarajah, J., Winikoff, M.: Prometheus design tool. In: Proceedings of the 23rd AAAI Conference on AI, pp. 1882–1883 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Padgham, L., Winikoff, M.: Developing intelligent agent systems: a practical guide, vol. 1. Wiley (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Pavón, J., Gómez-Sanz, J.J.: Agent oriented software engineering with INGENIAS. In: Mařík, V., Müller, J.P., Pěchouček, M. (eds.) CEEMAS 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2691, pp. 394–403. Springer, Heidelberg (2003)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  19. Penserini, L., Perini, A., Susi, A., Mylopoulos, J.: From stakeholder intentions to software agent implementations. In: Martinez, F.H., Pohl, K. (eds.) CAiSE 2006. LNCS, vol. 4001, pp. 465–479. Springer, Heidelberg (2006)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  20. Pěchouček, M., Mařík, V.: Industrial deployment of multi-agent technologies: Review and selectedcase studies. Journal of Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems 17, 397–431 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Rao, A., Georgeff, M., et al.: BDI agents: From theory to practice. In: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Multi-Agent Systems (95), San Francisco, pp. 312–319 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Wellman, M.P., Greenwald, A., Stone, P.: Autonomous Bidding Agents: Strategies and Lessons from the Trading Agent Competition. MIT Press (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Winikoff, M.: JACK intelligent agents: An industrial strength platform. In: Multi-Agent Programming, pp. 175–193 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Winikoff, M.: Towards making agent UML practical: a textual notation and a tool. In: Fifth International Conference on Quality Software, pp. 401–406 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Wooldridge, M., Jennings, N., Kinny, D.: The GAIA methodology for agent oriented analysis and design. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Saytems 3(3), 285–312 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computer Science and IT, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

    Yoosef Abushark & John Thangarajah

Authors
  1. Yoosef Abushark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John Thangarajah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. ICAR/CNR, Istituto per il CAlcolo Automatico e Reti ad Alte Prestazioni/National Research Council, Viale delle Scienze, ed.11, 90128, Palermo, Italy

    Massimo Cossentino

  2. University Pierre and Marie Curie, LIP6, 4,Plce Jussieu, 75252, Paris Cedex 0, France

    Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni

  3. Department of Information Science, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, 9054, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Michael Winikoff

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Abushark, Y., Thangarajah, J. (2013). Propagating AUML Protocols to Detailed Design. In: Cossentino, M., El Fallah Seghrouchni, A., Winikoff, M. (eds) Engineering Multi-Agent Systems. EMAS 2013. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 8245. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-45343-4_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-45343-4_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-45342-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-45343-4

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation