Multi Dimension Quality Model of MAS.
Punam Bedi, Vibha Gaur · Software Engineering Research and Practice · 2006
Abstract Advances in networking technology have revitalized agent technology for engineering complex distributed softwaresystems. Nowadays, the agent technology has been applied in a wide range of application domains, including e-commerce, human computer interfaces, telecommunications and concurrent programming. A lot of research hasbeen done on design and development of Multi-agent systems (MAS) but quality in MAS has not yet received muchattention. Large-scale MAS based software development will require support for a diverse range of qualitydimensions and respective attributes. This paper defines quality model of MAS that addresses various dimensions ofquality and proposes a method to evaluate the quality, which is based on quality factor-criteria relationship. Keywords : Multi-agent systems, Dimension, Factor, Criteria, Evaluation, Quality Prism 1. Introduction In software engineering community there is an increasing effort of revising and restructuring software projects interms of Multi-agent systems (MAS). Multi-agent systems pose challenges for software engineers, as the quality inMAS is not straightforward. However, both researchers and practitioners are lacking a comprehensive frameworkthat would help them evaluate the quality of MAS. And there is a pressing need for software-engineering techniquesthat allow their quality to be effectively managed.Multi-agent systems (MAS) consist of an environment populated with a set of autonomous entities (agents) thatcooperate to solve a complex problem in decentralized way. Software agents are autonomous program units that actautonomously on behalf of their users, across open and distributed environments, to solve a growing number ofcomplex problems and can move throughout a network of agent aware computers [3]. Agents are characterized asautonomous, goal-oriented, situation aware and proactive as well as reactive. MAS models problems in terms ofautonomous interacting component-agents, which is proving to be a more natural way of representing taskallocation, team planning, user preferences, open environments, and so on. Multi-agent systems has been applied ina variety of domains, including aircraft maintenance, wireless collaboration and communications, financial portfoliomanagement, supply chain management etc. In [13], the application of multi-agent systems to monitor complexchemical processes has been presented. An application of MAS to a service mobile manipulator robot that interactswith a human during an object delivery and hand-over task has been presented in [14]. Mahamat Guiagoussou, SaidSoulhi presents the implementation of a maintenance application for cellular switching system using the Multi-agentparadigm [15].A lot of research has been done on design and development of Multi-agent systems (MAS) but quality in MAS hasnot yet received much attention. Large-scale MAS based software development will require support for a diverserange of quality dimensions and respective attributes. We found a little guidance in literature on what constitutes a “complete quality” in MAS. Behrouz Homayoun Far [2] defines Knowledgeability and Complexity issues in MAS.In [3], a method for measurement of quality of Java agents has been presented using extreme programming, whichdepends only on code. Behrouz Homayoun Far and Romi Satria Wahono [6] have defined mechanisms for decision-making by software agents in uncertain environments. In [12], the role of trust in multi-agent systems has beenexamined. In [16], an approach for fault-tolerance of multi-agent systems has been discussed. In order to fullyinvestigate the operational context of quality, it is necessary to examine all facets and perspectives of theimplementation. This research is an attempt to determine the factors that contribute to the quality in MAS. Quality in software systems is defined as the degree to which a system, a component or process conforms tospecified requirement [4] or fitness for use. ISO Standard 8402 defines quality as; “The totality of features andcharacteristics of a product or service that bears on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs”. A quality basedproduct results in better user satisfaction. Conventional software quality models such as McCall’s [5], and ISO 9126