Patterns for Agent-Based Information Systems: A Case Study in Transport
Vincent Couturier, Marc-Philippe Huget, David Telisso · InTech eBooks · 2012
Designing information systems is a complex task especially when these systems use agents to allow adaptability, cooperation and negotiation, and automatic behaviours.Difficulties arise due to the absence of understandable documentation associated with agent-based methodologies.These methodologies consider concepts defined implicitly and not explicitly requiring from engineers a good understanding of agent theory.This has as consequence an important learning curve for engineers trying to use agents for their information systems.This chapter proposes a collection of agent patterns to reduce time required to develop agent-based information systems.We propose, in this chapter, to develop software patterns and to reuse them to design complex information systems such as the ones based on agents.According to Alexander (Alexander et al., 1977;Alexander, 1979), a pattern describes a problem, which occurs frequently in an environment as well as a solution that can be adapted for the specific situation.A software pattern (Beck & Cunningham, 1987) follows the same principle and offers a solution to developers when building software in a specific context.Different categories of software patterns exist as mentioned in Section 2 and here, we present in this chapter, examples of agent patterns for analysis, design and implementation.They are illustrated on our case study in transport: enriched traveller information.These patterns are completed with reuse support patterns that help designing and building such agent-based information systems by guiding them among our collection of patterns.The chapter is structured as follows.Section 2 presents the concept of pattern.Section 3 describes the categories of patterns dedicated to engineering Agent-based Information Systems (AIS) and the reuse process.Section 4 describes examples of such patterns.Section 5 illustrates these patterns on a transport information system example.Section 6 compares with previous works in literature.Finally, Section 7 concludes the chapter and draws perspectives. The concept of patternAlexander introduced the concept of pattern in 1977 for the design and construction of homes and offices (Alexander et al., 1977;Alexander, 1979).