Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Pacific Rim International Conference on Multi-Agents

PRIMA 2007: Agent Computing and Multi-Agent Systems pp 255–267Cite as

Towards Method Engineering for Multi-Agent Systems: A Validation of a Generic MAS Metamodel

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 5044))

Abstract

It is a widely accepted premise that no single methodology can be suitable for all Multi-Agent System (MAS) software projects. This premise is playing a significant role in the appearance of new methodologies at an increasing pace. To effectively harness the software engineering knowledge of methodologies, method engineering is an appealing approach. It focuses on project-specific methodology construction from existing method fragments and it requires a gen- eric product-focussed metamodel to serve as a representational infrastructure to unify existing methodologies into a single specification. As part of its ongoing validation towards method engineering for MAS development, we present our generic metamodel and illustrate in this paper its wide applicability with respect to 10 methodologies extant agent-oriented. This validation provides further evidence to support the use of our metamodel towards the construction of situated MAS methodologies.

This is a preview of subscription content, 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

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Horlait, E.: Mobile Agents for Telecommunication Applications (Innovative Technology Series: Information Systems and Networks). Kogan Page, Portland (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Guessoum, Z., Rejeb, L., Durand, R.: Using adaptive Multi-Agent Systems to Simulate Economic Models. In: AAMAS 2004. ACM, New York (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ferber, J., Drogoul, A.: Using Reactive Multi-Agent Systems in Simulation and Problem Solving. In: Avouris, L.G.N.M. (ed.) Distributed AI: Theory and Praxis. Kluwer, Brussels (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Tidhar, G., et al.: Using Intelligent Agents in Military Simulation or Using Agents Intelligently. In: 11th Conference on Innovative Applications of Artificial Intelligence Papers (IAAI 1999), Orlando,Florida. MIT Press, Cambridge (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hunsberger, L., Grosz, B.J.: A combinatorial auction for collaborative planning. In: 4th International Conference on Multi-Agent Systems (ICMAS 2000) (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hogg, T., Williams, C.: Solving the Really Hard Problems with Cooperative Search. In: 11th National Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Washington, DC, USA. MIT Press, Cambridge (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Edmonds, B., Bryson, J.: The Insufficiency of Formal Design Methods - the necessity of an experimental approach. In: AAMAS 2004. ACM, New York (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Wooldridge, M., Jennings, N.R., Kinny, D.: The Gaia Methodology for Agent-Oriented Analysis and Design. In: Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, The Netherlands. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bernon, C., Gleizes, M.-P., Peyruqueou, S., Picard, G.: ADELFE: A methodology for adaptive multi-agent systems engineering. In: Petta, P., Tolksdorf, R., Zambonelli, F. (eds.) ESAW 2002. LNCS, vol. 2577, pp. 156–169. Springer, Heidelberg (2003)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Padgham, L., Winikoff, M.: Developing Intelligent Agent Systems. A Practical Guide, vol. 1, p. 225. J. Wiley & Sons, Chichester (2004)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  11. Cossentino, M., Potts, C.: A CASE tool supported methodology for the design of multi-agent systems. In: International Conference on Software Engineering Research and Practice (SERP 2002), Las Vegas, NV, USA (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Bernon, C., Cossentino, M., Gleizes, M.-P., Turci, P., Zambonelli, F.: A study of some multi-agent meta-models. In: Odell, J.J., Giorgini, P., Müller, J.P. (eds.) AOSE 2004. LNCS, vol. 3382, pp. 62–77. Springer, Heidelberg (2005)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  13. Beydoun, G., et al.: Developing and Evaluating a Generic Metamodel for MAS Work Products. In: Garcia, A., et al. (eds.) Software Engineering for Multi-Agent Systems IV: Research Issues and Practical Applications, pp. 126–142. Springer, Berlin (2006)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  14. Brinkkemper, S.: Method Engineering: Engineering of Information Systems Development Methods and Tools. Information and Software Technology 38(4), 275–280 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Henderson-Sellers, B., Simons, A., Younessi, H.: The OPEN Toolbox of Techniques, Harlow (Essex), UK. The OPEN Series. Addison-Wesley Longman, Amsterdam (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Bernon, C., Gleizes, M.-P., Peyruqueou, S., Picard, G.: ADELFE: A methodology for adaptive multi-agent systems engineering. In: Petta, P., Tolksdorf, R., Zambonelli, F. (eds.) ESAW 2002. LNCS, vol. 2577, pp. 156–169. Springer, Heidelberg (2003)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. Esteva, M., Cruz, D.d.l., Sierra, C.: ISLANDER: an electronic institutions editor. In: International Conference on Autonomous Agents & Multiagent Systems (AAMAS 2002), Italy. ACM, New York (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  18. da Silva, V.T., Choren, R., de Lucena, C.J.P.: Using the MAS-ML to model a multi-agent system. In: Lucena, C., Garcia, A., Romanovsky, A., Castro, J., Alencar, P.S.C. (eds.) SELMAS 2003. LNCS, vol. 2940, pp. 129–148. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  19. Tran, Q.N.N., Low, G.C.: Comparison of Ten Agent-Oriented Methodologies. In: Giorgini, B.H.-S.P. (ed.) Agent-Oriented Methodologies, pp. 341–367. Idea Group, Hershey (2005)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  20. Giunchiglia, F., Mylopoulos, J., Perini, A.: The tropos software development methodology: Processes, models and diagrams. In: Giunchiglia, F., Odell, J.J., Weiss, G. (eds.) AOSE 2002. LNCS, vol. 2585, pp. 162–173. Springer, Heidelberg (2003)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  21. Iglesias, C.A., Garijo, M.: The Agent-Oriented Methodology MAS- CommonKADS. In: Henderson-Sellers, B., Giorgini, P. (eds.) Agent-Oriented Methodologies, pp. 46–78. IDEA Group Publishing (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  22. DeLoach, S.A., Kumar, M.: Multi-Agent Systems Engineering: An Overview and Case Study. In: Henderson- Sellers, B., Giorgini, P. (eds.) Agent-Oriented Methodologies, pp. 236–276. IDEA Group Publishing (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Firby, R.J.: Adaptive Execution in Dynamic Domains. Yale University, Yale (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Garijo, F.J., Gomez-Sanz, J.J., Massonet, P.: The MESSAGE Methodology for Agent-Oriented Analysis and Design. In: Henderson-Sellers, B., Giorgini, P. (eds.) Agent-Oriented Methodologies, pp. 203–235. IDEA Group Publishing (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Pavon, J., Gomez-Sanz, J., Fuentest, R.: The INGENIAS Methodology and Tools. In: Henderson-Sellers, B., Giorgini, P. (eds.) Agent-Oriented Methodologies, pp. 236–276. IDEA Group Publishing (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Eydoun, G., et al.: Cooperative Modeling Evaluated. International Journal of Cooperative Information Systems 14(1), 45–71 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Tran, Q.-N.N., Low, G., Williams, M.-A.: A preliminary comparative feature analysis of multi-agent systems development methodologies. In: Bresciani, P., Giorgini, P., Henderson-Sellers, B., Low, G., Winikoff, M. (eds.) AOIS 2004. LNCS, vol. 3508, pp. 157–168. Springer, Heidelberg (2005)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  28. Wood, B., et al.: A Guide to the Assessment of Software Development Methods, Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Jayaratna, N.: Understanding and Evaluating Methodologies: NIMSAD, a Systematic Framework. McGraw-Hill, New York (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Olle, T.W., Sol, H.G., Tully, C.J.: Information Systems Design Methodologies - A Feature Analysis. Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Inc., T.O.A. A Comparison of Object-Oriented Development methodologies (1995), http://www.toa.com/smnn?mcr.html

  32. Shehory, O., Sturm, A.: Evaluation of modeling techniques for agent-based systems. In: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Autonomous Agents (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  33. O’Malley, S.A., DeLoach, S.A.: Determining when to use an agent-oriented software engineering paradigm. In: Wooldridge, M.J., Weiß, G., Ciancarini, P. (eds.) AOSE 2001. LNCS, vol. 2222. Springer, Heidelberg (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Cernuzzi, L., Rossi, G.: On the Evaluation of Agent-Oriented Modeling Methods. In: Proceedings of the OOPSLA Workshop on Agent-Oriented Methodologies (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Sabas, A., Badri, M., Delisle, S.: A Multidimentional Framework for the Evaluation of Multiagent System Methodologies. In: Proceedings of the 6th World Multiconference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics (SCI 2002) (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Beydoun, G., Debenham, J., Hoffmann, A.: Using Messaging Structure to Evolve Agents Roles. In: Barley, M., Kasabov, N. (eds.) Intelligent Agents and Multi-Agent Systems VII, pp. 18–30. Springer, Australia (2005)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Information Systems, Technology and Management, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Graham Low & Cesar Gonzalez-Perez

  2. Faculty of Information Technology, University of Technology of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Brian Henderson-Sellers & Cesar Gonzalez-Perez

  3. Faculty of Informatics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia

    Ghassan Beydoun

Authors
  1. Graham Low
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ghassan Beydoun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Brian Henderson-Sellers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Cesar Gonzalez-Perez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computer Science and Software Engineering, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Wollongong, Australia

    Aditya Ghose

  2. National ICT Australia, Queensland Research Laboratory, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia

    Guido Governatori

  3. Rangsit University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Ramakoti Sadananda

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Low, G., Beydoun, G., Henderson-Sellers, B., Gonzalez-Perez, C. (2009). Towards Method Engineering for Multi-Agent Systems: A Validation of a Generic MAS Metamodel. In: Ghose, A., Governatori, G., Sadananda, R. (eds) Agent Computing and Multi-Agent Systems. PRIMA 2007. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 5044. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01639-4_22

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01639-4_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-01638-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-01639-4

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation