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The Agent Modeling Language-AML: A Comprehensive Approach to Modeling Multi-Agent Systems
The field of study known as multi-agent systems has been in existence for more than 25 years. During this period it has already been recognized, and supported by both theoretical and practical evidence, that such systems have the potential to improve the practice in software engineering, and even to extend the range of applications that can feasibly
be tackled. However, one important aspect of multi-agent systems that still lacks complete and proper definition, general acceptance and practical application, is that of modeling, despite the substantial efforts of an active research community.
The focus of this book is thus on an approach to resolving this insufficiency by providing a comprehensive modeling language designed as an extension to UML 2.0, focused specifically on the modeling of multi-agent systems and applications. This language is AML - the Agent Modeling Language - the design of which is informed by previous work in this area while explicitly addressing known limitations relating to managing complexity and improving coverage and comprehension.
The book is addressed to researchers, students, software engineers, methodologists, and tool developers with the objective to explain foundation, design principles, specification, and usage of AML.
Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Overview
1.2 Goals of this Work
1.3 Outline of the Book
Part I: Background Information
2 Survey on Agent-Oriented Modeling Languages
2.1 Gaia
2.2 AUML
2.3 MESSAGE
2.4 Tropos
2.5 MAS-ML
2.6 AOR
2.7 Summary of Today's MAS Modeling Languages
3 Requirements on a MAS Modeling Language
Part II: Solution Summary
4 The AML Approach
4.1 The Purpose of AML
4.2 The Scope of AML
4.3 The Development of AML
4.4 AML Sources
4.5 The Language Architecture
5 Concepts of AML
5.1 Multi-Agent System
5.2 MAS Semi-entities and Entities
5.3 Structural Aspects
5.4 Social Aspects
5.5 MAS Deployment and Mobility
5.6 Behaviors
5.7 Mental Aspects
5.8 Ontologies
6 AML Modeling Mechanisms
6.1 Generic Modeling Mechanisms
6.2 Modeling Entity Types
6.3 Modeling Social Aspects
6.4 Modeling MAS Deployment and Mobility
6.5 Modeling Capabilities and Behavior Decomposition
6.6 Modeling Interactions
6.7 Modeling Mental Aspects
6.8 Modeling Ontologies
6.9 Modeling Contexts
7 Related Work
7.1 CASE Tool Support
7.2 Methodological Support
7.3 Practical Application of AML
7.4 Standardization Activities
Part III: AML Specification
8 Extensions to Standard UML Notation
8.1 Stereotyped Classifier
8.2 ConnectableElement with a Stereotyped Type
8.3 Connector with a Stereotyped Type
8.4 Lifeline with a Stereotyped Type
8.5 Composed Lifelines in Communication Diagrams
8.6 ObjectNode with a Stereotyped Type
8.7 Bi-directional Dependencies
8.8 Internal Structure of ConnectableElements
9 Organization of the AML Specification
9.1 Overall AML Package Structure
9.2 Specification Structure
10 Architecture
10.1 Entities
10.2 Agents
10.3 Resources
10.4 Environments
10.5 Social Aspects
10.6 MAS Deployment
11 Behaviors
11.1 Basic Behaviors
11.2 Behavior Decomposition
11.3 Communicative Interactions
11.4 Services
11.5 Observations and Effecting Interactions
11.6 Mobility
12 Mental
12.1 Mental States
12.2 Beliefs
12.3 Goals
12.4 Plans
12.5 Mental Relationships
13 Ontologies
13.1 Basic Ontologies
14 Model Management
14.1 Contexts
15 UML Extension for AML
15.1 Extended Actor
15.2 Extended BehavioralFeature
15.3 Extended Behavior
16 Diagrams
16.1 Diagram Frames
16.2 Diagram Types
17 Extension of OCL
17.1 New Operators
Part IV: Final Remarks
18 Conclusions
18.1 Context of the Work
18.2 Solution
18.3 Challenges
18.4 Results
18.5 Summary of Original Contribution
19 Further Work
19.1 Improvements of AML
19.2 Broader Application of AML
19.3 Assurance of Future Work
Bibliography
List of Acronyms
Index
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