A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures Manuel Kolp † Paolo Giorgini ‡ John Mylopoulos † † Department of Computer Science University of Toronto University of Toronto Toronto M5S 3G4, Canada Toronto M5S 3G4, Canada ATAL’01 - August , Seattle, USA ‡ Department of Mathematics University of Trento University of Trento Trento I-38100, Italy Trento I-38100, Italy

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 2 Motivation Multi-agent system: organization of individuals to achieve particular, possible common goals. Multi-agent system: organization of individuals to achieve particular, possible common goals. Using same concepts for requirements and architectures –Multi-Agents architecture as organization and intentional structures –Coordinated autonomous components with goals to fulfil and social inter-dependencies ( i* ) –Concepts from organization theory and modeling Ontology: 3 levels (Macro, micro, atomic) Part of TROPOS ( –Requirements-Driven Development Methodology for Agent- Oriented Software

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 3 i*: an Organizational Modeling Framework Goal Task Resource Softgoal Media Shop

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 4 Multi-Agent Architectures as Social Structures Global architecture in terms of interconnected social components. 3 levels Organizational –1 Macrolevel : Organizational Styles (Organization Theory) Vertical Integration, Pyramid, Joint Venture, Structure in 5, Bidding, Hierarchical Contracting, Co-optation, Takeover Agent, COOPIS –2 Micro level : Social Patterns (Agent, COOPIS Community) Broker, Matchmaker, Contract-Net, Mediator, Monitor, Embassy, Wrapper, Master-Slave,... i* –3 Atomic : Social and intentional concepts – i*

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 5 Organization Theory Mintzberg, Scott, Galbraith, … Studies alternatives and models for (business) organizations Used to model the coordination of business stakeholders -- individuals, physical or social systems -- to achieve common (business) goals. Structure in 5, Pyramid, Takeover, Joint Venture, Cooptation, Hierarchical Contracting, Vertical Integration, Bidding, Merger, Equity Agreement, Virtual Organization, …

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 6 Structure in 5 Strategic and logistic components found in organizations. Operational core Operational core : basic operations -- the input, processing, output associated with running the organization. Strategic apex Strategic apex : executive, strategic decisions. Support Support : Assists the operation core for non-operational services outside the basic flow of operational procedures. Technostructure Technostructure : standardizes the behavior of other components, help the system adapt to its environment. Middle line Middle line : Actors who join the apex to the core.

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 7 Structure in 5 in i* and Telos TELL CLASS StructureIn5MetaClass IN Class WITH /*Class is a MetaMetaClass*/ attribute name: String part, exclusivePart, dependentPart ApexMetaClass: Class CoordinationMetaClass: Class MiddleAgencyMetaClass: Class SupportMetaClass: Class OperationalCoreMetaClass: Class END StructureIn5MetaClass In i* In Telos

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 8 Vertical Integration & Joint Venture Vertical Integration & Joint Venture

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 9 Problems A mobile robot layered architecture Information exchange not always straight-forward Often need to establish direct communication Data and control hierarchies not separated Prevent the dynamic manipulation of components Non Organizational (Classical) Architecture Styles From [Software Architecture: Perspective on an Emerging Discipline, Shaw, Garland, 96]

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 10 Mobile Robot Architecture: Structure-in-5 More distributed architecture

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 11 Software Quality Attributes Predictability, Security, Adaptability, Cooperativity, Competitivity, Availability, Integrity, Modularity, Aggregability

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 12 Example: A User 2 On-line Buying System Media taxonomy Media taxonomy –on-line catalog –DBMS E-Shopping Cart E-Shopping Cart –Check In –Buying –Check Out Search Engine Search Engine –catalog browser –Keywords –full-text Billing Processor Billing Processor –$ transactions –orders Multimedia Multimedia –description –samples Security, Availability, Adaptability, …

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 13 Goal Analysis: Selecting System Architecture

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 14 A Joint-Venture E-commerce Architecture E-business styles: on web, protocols, technologies Not on business processes, NFRs No organization of the architecture, conceptual high- level perspective From Security, Availability, Adaptability

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 15 Social Patterns Matchmaker Monitor

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 16 AgentCapabilities Customer Build a request to query the matchmaker Handle a services ontology Query the matchmaker for a service  Find alternative matchmakers  Request a service to a provider  Manage possible provider failures  Monitor the provider’s ongoing processes Ask the provider to stop the requested service Provider Handle a services ontology Advertise a service to the matchmaker Withdraw the advertisement Use an agenda for managing the requests Inform the customer of the acceptance of the request service Inform the customer of a service failure Inform the customer of success of a service Matchmaker Update the local database Handle a services ontology  Use an agenda for managing the customer requests  Search the name of an agent for a service  Inform the customer of the unavailability of agents for a service

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 17 Assigning Agent Roles to Actors

Manuel Kolp, University of Toronto, Department of Computer Science © A Goal-Based Organizational Perspective on Multi-Agent Architectures 18 Conclusion social and intentional structures Multi-Agents architectures described with concepts from requirements and organization modeling as social and intentional structures -> Narrows the gap requirements / architecture organization information systems Best suited to open, dynamic and distributed applications and organization information systems Ontology on 3 levels: –Macro: Organizational Styles, Micro:Social Patterns, Atomic:i* notions In progress –Formalizing the styles, patterns, Instantiation of a style, pattern ?? –Decision Algorithms, –From Actors to Agents