Title: PASSIM: a simulation-based process for the development of multi-agent systems

Authors: Massimo Cossentino, Giancarlo Fortino, Alfredo Garro, Samuele Mascillaro, Wilma Russo

Addresses: ICAR/CNR, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy. ' Dipartimento di Elettronica Informatica e Sistemistica (DEIS), Universita della Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy. ' Dipartimento di Elettronica Informatica e Sistemistica (DEIS), Universita della Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy. ' Dipartimento di Elettronica Informatica e Sistemistica (DEIS), Universita della Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy. ' Dipartimento di Elettronica Informatica e Sistemistica (DEIS), Universita della Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy

Abstract: This paper presents the Process for Agent Specification, Simulation and Implementation (PASSIM), a simulation-based development process for Multi-agent Systems (MASs), which was obtained by integrating the well-known and established Process for Agent Societies Specification and Implementation (PASSI) methodology and a Statecharts-based simulation methodology supporting functional and nonfunctional validation of the MAS being developed. PASSIM can be effectively used as an experimental tool in the context of Agent Oriented Software Engineering (AOSE) for evaluating the benefits of using simulation for MAS development. To exemplify this process and demonstrate its effectiveness, a case study concerning the analysis, design and simulation of a complex MAS implementing an agent-based e-marketplace is defined and detailed.

Keywords: multi-agent systems; MASs; agent-oriented software engineering; AOSE; discrete-event simulation; method engineering; agent-based systems; agent specification; agent simulation; agent implementation; e-marketplace.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAOSE.2008.017313

International Journal of Agent-Oriented Software Engineering, 2008 Vol.2 No.2, pp.132 - 170

Published online: 26 Feb 2008 *

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