Evolution of extensible Java EE-based agent framework

Abstract

In this paper the evolution of EXtensible Java EE-based Agent Framework (XJAF), a FIPA-compliant multi-agent system will be presented. The main motivation behind the development of XJAF is to demonstrate how existing, standardized Java EE technologies, libraries and technical solutions (e.g. JNDI, JMS, and EJB), can be used to implement a large subset of functionalities required by a multi-agent system. Immediate benefits of this approach are shorter development time, harnessing of advanced programming features such as agent pooling and runtime load-balancing, flatter learning curve for new developers of the system, and so on. Several weaknesses that became apparent with the original implementation of XJAF caused recent improvements of the system. These include the addition of fault-tolerant techniques, and the increase of interoperability through a SOA-based design. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.