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An agent-based approach to tool integration

  • Special section on tool-integration applications and frameworks
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International Journal on Software Tools for Technology Transfer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Tool integration is a very difficult challenge. Problems may arise at different abstraction levels and from several sources such as heterogeneity of manipulated data, incompatible interfaces, or uncoordinated services, to name just a few examples. On the other hand, applications based on the coherent composition of activities, components, services, and data from heterogeneous sources are increasingly present in our everyday lives. Consequently, tool integration takes on increasing significance.

In this paper we analyze the tool-integration problem at different abstraction levels and discuss different views on a layered software architecture that we have designed specifically for a middleware that supports the execution of distributed applications for the orchestration of human/system activities. We noticed that the agent paradigm provided a suitable technology for abstraction in tool integration. Throughout the paper, the discussion refers to a case study in the bioinformatics domain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Matematica e Informatica, Università di Camerino, 62032, Camerino, Italy

    Flavio Corradini & Emanuela Merelli

  2. Dipartimento di Informatica, Sistemistica e Comunicazione, Università di Milano Bicocca, 20126, Milano, Italy

    Leonardo Mariani

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  1. Flavio Corradini
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  2. Leonardo Mariani
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  3. Emanuela Merelli
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Correspondence to Flavio Corradini.

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Corradini, F., Mariani, L. & Merelli, E. An agent-based approach to tool integration. Int J Softw Tools Technol Transfer 6, 231–244 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10009-004-0158-5

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