TY - GEN
T1 - Modules as policy-based intentions
T2 - 5th International Workshop on Programming Multi-Agent Systems, ProMAS 2007
AU - Hindriks, Koen
PY - 2008/5/26
Y1 - 2008/5/26
N2 - Modular programming has the usual benefits associated with structured programming, information hiding and reusability, but also has additional benefits to offer when applied in agent programming. We argue that modules can be viewed as structures similar to that of policy-based intentions [2]. Modules perceived in this way are components within an agent that are triggered in a particular situation and combine the knowledge and skills to adequately pursue the goals of the agent in that situation. The context that triggers the activation of a module defines the interface of the module, which can be specified declaratively, in contrast to the usual functional interpretations of such interfaces. A feature that differentiates our notion of a module from plans is that modules provide an agent with a means to focus its attention on the relevant resources it needs to handle a situation. As a result, modules can be used to control or reduce the underspecification and inherent non-determinism that is typical of agent programs. In the paper, the proposed module concept is incorporated into the agent language GOAL and illustrated by means of a simple example.
AB - Modular programming has the usual benefits associated with structured programming, information hiding and reusability, but also has additional benefits to offer when applied in agent programming. We argue that modules can be viewed as structures similar to that of policy-based intentions [2]. Modules perceived in this way are components within an agent that are triggered in a particular situation and combine the knowledge and skills to adequately pursue the goals of the agent in that situation. The context that triggers the activation of a module defines the interface of the module, which can be specified declaratively, in contrast to the usual functional interpretations of such interfaces. A feature that differentiates our notion of a module from plans is that modules provide an agent with a means to focus its attention on the relevant resources it needs to handle a situation. As a result, modules can be used to control or reduce the underspecification and inherent non-determinism that is typical of agent programs. In the paper, the proposed module concept is incorporated into the agent language GOAL and illustrated by means of a simple example.
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U2 - 10.1007/978-3-540-79043-3_10
DO - 10.1007/978-3-540-79043-3_10
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:43949145923
SN - 354079042X
SN - 9783540790426
T3 - Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
SP - 156
EP - 171
BT - Programming Multi-Agent Systems - 5th International Workshop, ProMAS 2007, Revised and Invited Papers
Y2 - 15 May 2007 through 15 May 2007
ER -