An agent-based approach to ubiquitous e-business applications
Makoto Amamiya, Guoqiang Zhong, Satoshi Amamiya, Keníchi Takahashi, Tadashige Iwao · International Journal of Electronic Business · 2005
E-business evolves rapidly with advances in information technology. Beginning from the digitisation of data and proceeding to the digitisation of processes, e-business has penetrated everywhere in the business world. The next wave will involve moving into an "anywhere, anytime" paradigm with easier access, wider product selection and higher-level services. From this perspective, we exploit an agent-based approach to the analysis, design, implementation and deployment of next-generation e-business systems. Benefiting from the agent-oriented paradigm, we are able to construct application systems in which e-business participants, activities and transactions are treated as agents, agent roles and agent interactions respectively. The overall systems are thus represented as agent societies. From the underlying concepts to the basic models and practical methodologies, this paper gives a general introduction to our approach. A case study is also presented to make the discussion more concrete.