Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 1.
Schematic of the Common Language Framework
2
Multi-language Support in Agent Factory
Agent Factory (AF) is an open-source framework for the development of agent-based
systems [4]. Since 2001, AF has been structured over a number of layers, with the
lower run-time environment layer providing FIPA-standards based support for agent
interoperability much in the same way as is done in other agent platforms, such as JADE
[1]. The upper levels of the AF framework then deliver support for the fabrication of
agents using the AFAPL2 agent programming language [3].
In order to facilitate ongoing work on Agent Factory and AFAPL2, we have at-
tempted to develop a range of sub-components that can be easily adapted and reused as
necessary. We believe that these components have reached a level of maturity that will
allow AOP language developers to utilise them to rapidly prototype new agent program-
ming languages. As is depicted in figure 1, these components are known collectively as
the Common Language Framework (CLF), and they are outlined below.
2.1
Infrastructure Support
The infrastructure components provided by the CLF are concerned with the internals
of the agent. They provide support for: representing and manipulating first-order logic;
plan representation and execution; and a standardised interface between the agent and
its environment.
Logic Framework:
Agent Factory utilises a standard predicate logic language, similar
to those used in other systems such as GOAL[8] and Jason[2], which is based on the
one originally developed for AFAPL2 [3]. Two key interfaces are used to represent
well formed formulae within the language; IFormula and ITerm. Figure 2 shows the
