Title: Automated testing sequences generation from AUML diagrams: a formal verification of agents' interaction protocols

Authors: Farid Mokhati, Mourad Badri, Linda Badri, Fathi Hamidane, Sofiane Bouazdia

Addresses: Department of Computer Science, University of Oum El-Bouaghi, Algeria. ' Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Quebec at Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada. ' Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Quebec at Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada. ' Department of Computer Science, University of Tebessa, Algeria. ' Department of Computer Science, University of Oum El-Bouaghi, Algeria

Abstract: We present, in this paper, a new technique supporting an automatic generation of testing sequences from Agent UML (AUML) diagrams. The considered diagrams are related to agents| interaction protocols. They are formally described using the formal specification language Maude. Starting from the Maude specifications generated automatically from the AUML diagrams, we present a systematic and iterative approach for the construction of testing sequences (sequences of rules) for the verification of the interactions between agents in a Multiagent System (MAS). The approach is organised in two major steps: (1) the generation of Reduced Testing Sequences (RTSs) relative to the individual behaviour of each agent (unit testing of an agent), whose behaviour is described using AUML state charts and (2) the generation of Complete Testing Sequences (CTSs) relative to the collective behaviour of agents (social testing), whose collaborative behaviour is described by an AUML sequence diagram. Furthermore, the proposed approach considers several aspects related to the synchronisation between the agents (inter-agents and external).

Keywords: multi-agent systems; MAS testing; Agent UML; AUML diagrams; Maude specifications; individual behaviour; collaborative behaviour; generation; reduced testing sequences; RTSs; complete testing sequences; CTSs; agent-based systems.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAOSE.2008.020139

International Journal of Agent-Oriented Software Engineering, 2008 Vol.2 No.4, pp.422 - 448

Published online: 29 Aug 2008 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article