Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
After considering the goal of FIPA general open agent system, the function of
ACL is clearer. Other mechanism for example CORBA has the same goal.
However, some constraints are added to object interface when implementation.
Historical experience tell us: the agent and agent system can be implemented by
diversified interface mechanism; the existent examples include using the TCP/IP
socket, HTTP, SMTP and GSM short message for agents. ACL try to decrease to
the smallest to respect the diversification. Especially, the smallest message
transmission is defined: the text through the small bit stream. This is the method
adopted by KQML. This broad method is used high performance. This system's
message is very high. FIPA is defined substitute transmission method, including
other transmission expression. They satisfy the high performance of request.
At the same time, ACL is transmitted a group request:
Message service can transmit a bit series to the message to the destination.
Through the message service interface, the agent can find whether it can deal
with the 8 bit stream.
Under normal circumstances, the message service is a reliable (the message
package can reach its destination) and accurate (the forms of received is the same
with the sent), and orderly (from the agent A sent to a agent b when the message
arrived b And send it from a different order). Unless specified, an agent will be
considered to have these three characteristics.
If the messaging services can not guarantee that one or all of the above
characteristics, it will represent through the message transmission services
interface that in some way out.
The agents will be able to choose whether to pause and wait for the results of
news or to continue to other unrelated tasks when wait for reply information.
This effectiveness of action is implementation details, but whether or not to
support such actions must be clear.
Impart information of the parameters of action, for example, if there is no
response time beyond, not in the message that at this level, but it is messaging
services as part of the interface.
Message transmission services will find and report errors and return to
agents, e.g. the form of an error message, not transmission, could not find agents.
Based on the errors circumstances, it will return a value of message send
interface, or through an error message related to return to.
A principal will have a name makes messaging services can the news reached
the right destination. Messaging services can determine the correct transmission
