Classifying Agent Systems
Brian S. Logan · 1998
To select an appropriate tool or tools to build an agent-based system we need to map from features of agent systems to implementation technologies. In this paper we propose a simple scheme for classifying agent systems. Starting from the notion of an agent as a cluster concept, we motivate an approach to classification based on the identification of features of agent systems, and use this to generate a high level taxonomy. We illustrate how the scheme can be applied by means of some simple examples, and argue that our approach can form the first step in developing a methodology for the selection of implementation technologies. Introduction The conventional approach to developing an agent system involves defining a theory of the agent(s) which comprise the system, devising an architecture which realises the theory and finally implementing this architecture, possibly using a toolkit which supports the theory or architecture (see, for example, (Fisher et al. 1997)). In this view, agent t...