Abstract
Complex systems call for a hierarchical description. Analogously, the engineering of non-trivial MASs (multiagent systems) requires principles and mechanisms for a multi-layered description, which could be used by MAS designers to provide different levels of abstraction over MASs.
In this paper, we first advocate the need for zooming mechanisms, promoting a coherent and consistent multi-layered view of agent systems. After surveying the best-known AOSE methodologies, we focus on the scaling mechanisms of the OPM process-oriented methodology. Then, by adopting SODA as our reference, we show how an AOSE methodology can be enhanced with simple yet expressive zooming mechanisms. Finally, we present a simple case study where the enhanced agent-oriented methodology (SODA +zoom) is exploited and put to the test.
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Molesini, A., Omicini, A., Ricci, A., Denti, E. (2006). Zooming Multi-Agent Systems. In: Müller, J.P., Zambonelli, F. (eds) Agent-Oriented Software Engineering VI. AOSE 2005. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 3950. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/11752660_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/11752660_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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