Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
def sendMapWeight = {
hai.invoke(MapServiceAgent.SET_WEIGHT, hai.findObject("MapWeight", params.id))
flash.message = "Preferences saved"
render(view: "/settings/index")
}
Listing 1.3.
Sending data from UI to MAS using the HaiDBBean
4
Related Work
To distinguish our work from others, we performed a comprehensive survey on
existing approaches. We identified several approaches, but only two of them
were generic and can be classified as frameworks: The
JACK WebBot
[1] and
the
Jadex Webbridge Framework
[11]. Both of them support the development
of web-based agent applications. The Jadex Webbridge Framework facilitates
application development in compliance with the Model 2 paradigm. It allows the
agent developer to do his work without knowledge on web development and by
extending a provided controller component. The JACK WebBot is an extension
of the JACK [7] framework and allows for the development of web applications
by using JACK agents. JACK WebBot extends the Java Servlet API and thus
requires a servlet container to provide user interfaces. To interact with the user
interface JACK agents have to implement special interfaces.
Furthermore, we were able to identify several ad-hoc solutions. The
JADE
Framework [4], for instance, is equipped with the
JadeGateway
[8] and the
JADE
GUI Agent
[15]. Both are concepts to furnish agent applications with servlet
based web or SWING UIs. JIAC is equipped with the
Alter-Ego
[13] concept
and the
MAMS
(Multi Access, Modular Services) [14] principle. Both concepts
facilitate communication between UI and MAS, yet, most of the technical details
have to be implemented by the agent developers.
4.1 Discussion
In our survey, we identified only two approaches capable of furnishing agent sys-
tems with user interfaces: The Jadex Webbridge Framework and the Jack Web-
Bot. Both approaches facilitate the development of web-based agent applications.
While the JACK WebBot has been tailored for JACK agent applications, the con-
cept of the Jadex Webbridge Framework is a generic one and can also be realised
with other agent frameworks. As a matter of fact, both solutions restrict the agents
in their proactive behavior. Without an open request, an agent cannot start any
interaction with the user. This function is provided by the Human Interface Agent.
At the same HAI is not specialised to onetypeofuserinterfacetechnology.
Nevertheless, there are other features that are not supported by HAI. The
Webbridge Framework for instance allows to create agents for a request and
also to withdraw them when they are no longer needed. This is an important
feature, especially for resource management. The JACK WebBot is able to read
and manipulate requests. This feature is used to increase the security of web
sessions. The modular concept of HAI helps to solve some of these shortcomings
in the future. This is one reason why we implemented HAI as JIAC V agent.
