A Component-Based Multi-Agent System Modeling Methodology

This dissertation defines a new feature called a§potential arc that is used to extend traditional§Colored Petri Net(CPN) models to support agent§behavior modeling. Potential arcs serve to extend the§traditional CPN model with an explicit support for§distinguishing the representation of potential§conflicts and real conflicts, and thereby avoid the§need for eliminating all potential conflicts in the§design stage.§§The research reported in this dissertation involves a§broad array of tasks, including model§generation algorithms, analysis/simulation§techniques, and experimentation. The main§contributions of the research are : 1) defines a new§feature called a potential arc that is used to§extend traditional Colored Petri Net (CPN) models to§support agent behavior modeling; 2)§presents a semi-automated MAS modeling methodology,§which allow software engineers to§create MAS systems based on the extended CPN model;§3) presents an intelligent coordinator§design methodology, resulting in a set of§coordinators at different levels of intelligence; and§4)evaluates the proposed modeling methodology by§developing models and performing simulationbased§analysis.