Dynamic Proliferation of Agents in a Multiple-Agent System

Abstract

This paper describes developments in an already existing software agent technology which facilitates agent creation and configuration in relatively large numbers for the formation of a multiple-agent system or MAS. The work addresses the task of quick and easy proliferation of such an MAS in which agents can be added, removed, configured and reconfigured without impacting on other agents. Specification of the MAS is laid down in a number of machine-readable text files, on which a program or script executes to bring the system into being. The mechanism described here is simply a means to creating such an MAS and focuses on scalability and ease of specification and configuration. The agent software used is of modular design and has several internal features which are further exploited to allow these developments. In this work, the agents are hosted in standard web service containers and use network protocols for communications. The original architecture and features of the agents are preserved. Multiple technologies are brought together and tested in the successful creation of a 100 agents.