This paper addresses MAS environments from an application perspective. It presents a structured view on environment-centric MAS applications. This comprises three base configurations, which MAS applications may apply directly or combine into a composite configuration. For each configuration, the paper presents key issues, requirements and opportunities (e.g. time management issues, real-world augmentation opportunities and state snapshot requirements). Thus, the paper delineates what environment technology may implement to serve MAS applications. Sample applications illustrate the configurations. Electronic institutions provide an example of an environment technology, already achieving some maturity. This paper is a preview of a more extensive paper (Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems (2007) 14:61-85, DOI 10.1007/s10458-006-9002-5).
In simulation applications, agents interact with the environment, which models entities in the world-ofinterest. There is no run-time connection from the real world to these models in the environment.
In this area, repositories of reusable emulation models can capture important domain knowledge and improve the overall quality of the models employed in MAS. The fact that these emulation models correspond to parts Progress of computations and time of the real world facilitates integration eanmdulraetuiosanbimlitoydesligdneifvieclaonptleyr.s Tmoutshtisaveonidd, tsseym Agent Agent rrweeoflylrelicdnt-gofto-hinneteacreossrptr.eecspifoicndcinogntepxatrtandof onthlye tegnA Agent Agent teeganm ttfchhuoeenntcrStasipsuonetbne,cjesietd.fhcicetSofaofmoborfierltihtooyenftsgtioimtomhieesnuslgloeawtimforuednansoncecwtaaoirongncnetheams.xgeteanInrinestt iterovnnnEm Virtual worldE:nrveeirnaotlintmwyeonrtld emulation Enveinrotintmyent ieanTmm rceoqmupiruetsatmioonrse thawnhreenal-ti mthee, or tehmeualbaitliiotyn Enveirnotintmyent Enveirnotintmyent Simulated time to emulate in real-time while agents are deliberating in combination with the speed-up of discrete-event simulation Up Front off-line modeling when agents are idling, are relatively simple time management functions. ibNneoenaxeditsdhteiendlegslssai,tmesruu.lcaEhtinofvuninrsocontfimotwneaanlrtietytaencidshncaoabnlsonegnoytt it-ftsereon Real World (Ednevpilrooynemd)ent Entity Actor shuapspothret aotpthpeorctourneitoyf ittos imprpolveimdeenstautiitoanbsle. l-rodW Entity Entity Entity Entity Entity In a third configuration, the environment augments adaptive structured information systems. These augmentations extend the information system, monitor the information system and add information processing structures. Furthermore, the environment captures the behavior of the agents themselves, allowing the agents to benefit from past experience of the agent community. Moreover, the environment may provide links between information structures.
Composite configurations reveal how base configurations must anticipate integration requirements. The functionality identified in the composite configuration includes access to the ‘system state’ in base configurations. Time and time management services are also important.
Finally, the paper addresses software support. Electronic Institutions are discussed as an example of relevant technology.
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