Addressing the limitations of the KQML agent communication language, 2000

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis Min

Identifier: b2087785

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists of theses written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate Software Engineering program. The holdings are bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Master of Science degree.

Dates

Creation: 2000

Creator

Mink, Albert E. (1969- ) (Author, Person)
Tepfenhart, William M. (1956-2019) (Thesis advisor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Access is by appointment only.

Access to the collection is confined to the Monmouth University Library and is subject to patron policies approved by the Monmouth University Library.

Collection holdings may not be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

Research appointments are scheduled by the Monmouth University Library Archives Collections Manager (723-923-4526). A minimum of three days advance notice is required to arrange a research appointment for access to the collection.

Patrons must complete a Researcher Registration Form and provide appropriate identification to gain access to the collection holdings. Copies of these documents will be kept on file at the Monmouth University Library.

Extent

1 Items (print book) : 46 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This thesis investigates the ways in which KQML can further meet the communication requirements of software agents.

From desktops to distant networds, software agents are becoming more prevalent in a variety of applications. Unlike many conventional programs, software agents can collaborate with other software agents to attain a certain goal. Therefore, a suitable language and protocol is needed for software agents to communicate in order to facilite such collaboration. Such a language must meet the syntactic, semantic, physical, performance, and discourse requirements of software agents. In addition, such a language should be readable and easily implemented by human users.

Currrently, one of the most popular of such agent communication languages is KQML, the Knowledge Query and Manipulation Language. Of course, KQML has its advantages and disadvantages. KQML is human readable, and its syntax and semantics are well defined. However, the order of KQML commands required for inter-agent discourse is not always so intutitive.

The intent of this thesis is to discuss the limitations of KQML and propose ways to eliminate those limitations. First, the communication requirements of software agents must be presented. Next, these requirements can be used as a yardstick to determine the advantages and limitations of KQML as an agent communication language. Using this information, solutions can be proposed to address those limitations, ensuring that KQML becomes the language of choice for inter-agent communication.

Partial Contents

Abstract -- Acknowledgements -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Software agents -- 3. Communication requirements of software agents -- 4. The knowledge query and manipulation language -- 5. Advantages of KQML -- 6. Shortcomings of KQML -- 7. Addressing the shortcomings of KQML -- 8. Conclusions and future research -- References.