An obligation-based framework for web service composition via agent conversations

This paper presents a framework for web service composition based on social norms, particularly obligations. Web services are implemented and orchestrated by agents. Agent interaction is defined by means of obligations. Then, obligation-based agent conversations are translated into a web service composition method. Web services' functionalities are conceived as a set of actions with preconditions and effects, both expressed in terms of obligations that are adopted by agents as goals. In addition, an agent communication language that defines how messages affect agents' states, and as a consequence, the access to the services is presented. Moreover, a method for automatically creating generic composer agents is proposed. Composer agents are capable of managing and composing web services by means of inducing obligations to agents that implement and orchestrate web services.