CAMLE: A caste-centric agent-oriented modelling language and environment

Abstract

This paper presents an agent-oriented modelling language and environment CAMLE. It is based on the conceptual model of multi-agent systems (MAS) proposed and formally defined in the formal specification language SLABS. It is caste-centric because the notion of caste plays the central role in its methodology. Caste is the classifier of agents in our language. It allows multiple and dynamic classifications of agents. It serves as the template of agents and can be used to model a wide variety of MAS concepts, such as roles, agent societies, etc. The language supports modelling MAS at both macro-level for the global properties and behaviours of the system and micro-level for properties and behaviours of the agents. The environment provides tools for constructing graphic MAS models in CAMLE, automatically checking consistency between various views and models at different levels of abstraction, and automatically transforming models into formal specifications in SLABS. The uses of the CAMLE modelling language and environment are illustrated by an example. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.