Multi-agent information retrieval in heterogeneous industrial automation environments

Abstract

The trend towards the integration of application domains and technologies in the field of industrial automation and information technology (e.g. process control systems, computer technology and telecommunication) leads to an increasing complexity of systems and applications. Even though integration has always been one of the major goals of automation, it is still challenging. Currently, users have to run a large number of specific software tools to aggregate unstructured bunches of data into meaningful information. This is coupled with the need for specific knowledge to handle the different tools. This paper presents a concept for an agent-based information retrieval system, which tackles the challenges of information retrieval in heterogeneous environments. This is accomplished by representing data sources, search queries and the data retrieval process itself by means of software agents and ontologies. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.