On The Use of Patterns in Multiagent System Engineering (MaSE) Methodology
Radziah Mohamad, Safaai Deris, Hany H. Ammar · 2005
The agent-oriented approach has been successfully applied to the solution of complex problems in dynamic open environments. However, to extend its use to industrial environments, some means of engineering agent-based applications is needed. Arguably, software methodologies provide one way to engineer such applications. Although several agent-oriented methodologies have been proposed to date, none of them is mature enough to be used in industrial environments. In particular, they typically don’t include a systematic process to apply patterns that are necessary for addressing issues of reuse and speed of development. Two possible approaches to overcome such weaknesses in current agent-oriented methodologies are: to propose new methodology or to enhance the existing ones. In this paper, the latter approach is taken, offering an enhancement of the MaSE methodology to include a systematic process to use patterns. MaSE is integrated with Pattern Oriented Analysis and Design (POAD) methodology to provide a systematic development process using patterns. “Agent Identification step” is also proposed by this paper to guide the agent identification process in the analysis phase. This paper will show that the integration of the POAD methodology to the MaSE methodology in the analysis phase could leverage the reuse level of the agentbased system.