Fumihiro Kumeno

Interoperability for mobile agents by incarnation agents

Many different kinds of mobile agent platforms have been developed. However, migration to a different type of mobile agent platform is actually impossible. As a solution to this problem, we propose an interoperability concept using incarnation agents. This concept realizes logical mobility between different kinds of agent platforms. The incarnation agent extracts an agents procedures and status, compiles them into an agent platform-independent format, and then re-compiles them to the target agent platform format, thus enabling the process to continue. The incarnation agent also has autonomy for interoperability. It manages complex migration for interoperability so that the agents procedures can be described in a simple mobile model. Moreover, the incarnation agent modifies the agents procedures so that they are applicable to the facilities of the target agent platform. Feasibility experiments using interoperability middleware have been conducted as a basis for realizing incarnation agents.

Building a Body of Knowledge on Model Checking for Software Development

Formal Methods has been recognized as a rigorous development methodology for hardware and software systems. In particular, model checking is well accepted as an effective verification method for hardware systems, safety/missioncritical systems and embedded systems. To foster this technology in industry, we recognize a need to develop educational materials to enhance learning the technology by students and practitioners. However, there are neither standard guidelines nor instructions how to teach this technology. In this paper, we will present the first draft of a body of knowledge on model checking called MCBOK to address this issue, and present lessons learned from its development experience.

Model Checking Process with Goal Oriented Requirements Analysis

Model checking is a powerful technique for verifying the correctness of a systempsilas specification. But even when the specification has been verified to be correct, there is still the question of whether the specification covers all the expected behaviors. One of the most important issues for verification is the sufficiency of verification items. In model checking, specification-level properties such as reachability are well-studied, but the sufficiency of a specification against the preceding requirements still remains a challenge.In this paper, we propose a model-checking process with goal oriented requirements analysis, in which goal descriptions in a natural language are systematically refined into linear temporal logic formulae. Furthermore, the coverage of the verification result can be evaluated against the goal model. We developed a tool that supports the process, and applied it to an example. This process lowers the technical barriers to model checking and improves the sufficiency of system verification.

Model checking education for software engineers in Japan

This paper is the preliminary report of a joint research project on developing a body of knowledge on model checking. The project is being carried out by four organizations that give model checking courses to software engineers in Japan. The paper explains the main objective of the project and reports the results of an evaluation of model checking programs.

A directory server for mobile agents interoperability

This paper reports a directory server in a distributed middleware for realizing the interoperability between a wide variety of mobile agent systems. The ODP trader, an ITU-T recommendation for direction service, is customized for the specific requirements. The key ideas are (1) to extend the managed information so that program codes can be members, and (2) to provide Proxy Offer for utilizing services located outside the directory. Performance measurement shows that Proxy Offer is more efficient than dynamic property of the ODP trader in the current application.

An Algebraic Semantics of Reflective Objects

Reflection or metalevel architecture has received attention in recent years, since this approach provides functional extension and dynamic adaptation of computer systems. In this paper, we propose a technique to introduce reflection into a kind of algebraic system called rewriting logic. Since rewriting logic can model concurrent object-oriented systems, our technique enables modeling of reflective object-oriented systems including metaobjects and metaobject protocols. A framework for developing denotational semantics is given based on a category-theoretic model. We present some problems for finishing our semantics which remain unsolved.

Evolutional agents: field oriented programming language, Flage

We propose two new concepts, evolutional agent and field. The main purpose of the work is to provide a framework for building software which adapts to changes of requirements autonomously. In open networks, the adaptability to changes of requirements or environments is essential, while there are many free applications and components to serve various requirements. Focusing on this point, we introduce concurrent objects with meta-base architecture, agents, and fields, another kind of object. In our model, adaptive agents, called evolutional agents, adapt to changes by traversing a network and acquiring components as their own functions. Fields are receptacles of software components in networks. Agents evolve into enhanced ones by traveling to fields and acquiring components from the fields. Flage is a framework for building the software architecture based on these concepts.

Technology trends analysis from the internet resources

In business or technology planning, it is strongly required to grasp the overall technology trends and predict what will happen in the near future. In this paper, we propose the method where we can detect and analyze the technology trends from the Internet resources.

Mobile agent based evacuation system when the battery runs out: EASTER

As mobile computing becomes common, the battery issue of mobile computing devices has become increasingly notable. To this end, research and development of various power-conservation devices and methods are actively taking place. However, the conventional method of extending the battery life through power-conservation can never prevent the unintentional shutdowns of applications due to a dead battery. This research aims to realize the evacuation of applications on a mobile computing device to another device before the battery runs out by creating the application as a mobile agent. In particular, by introducing the concept of the Crisis Management Center, dynamic and smooth evacuation of multiple application agents will become possible. The paper explains and verifies the effectiveness of the EASTER (Escape Agent System from dying batTERy), a system developed for the purpose of recovering the applications when a battery is running out through the use of a mobile agent system.

Flage: field-oriented language for agents model

We propose Flage, a language for building software modules (agents) which adapt to a change of environment in an open distributed system. Environments are defined as multiple agents and specifications which consist of constraints for cooperation among the agents. Flage provides a description of environments by the notion of agents and fields. We describe the concept of Flage and the adaptation technique.<<ETX>>