L'objectif du TCAO (Travail Collaboratif Assisté par Ordinateur), est de trouver les moyens par lesquels les applications collaboratives sont susceptibles d'améliorer la collaboration entre les individus. De ce fait, il existe une grande nécessité de remédier des contraintes liées au manque de flexibilité et la rigidité des systèmes collaboratifs actuels, par l'adoption des solutions adéquates pour mettre en oeuvre une meilleure collaboration, selon le contexte et la tâche à effectuer entre les utilisateurs. En effet, le domaine du TCAO doit évoluer avec l'évolution des systèmes et des technologies qui touchent notre vie quotidienne, surtout l'évolution de l'internet qui nous rend totalement dépendant des services et applications qui existent "virtuellement", où la plupart des utilisateurs passent une bonne partie de leurs temps à exploiter des méthodes à rechercher et utiliser ces services qui correspondent le plus à leurs préférences. C'est pour cette raison que l'évolution du TCAO se montre essentielle pour faire face à l'évolution exponentielle des technologies d'internet, afin de créer ou de réutiliser plus facilement des applications chargées d'assister le travail communautaire des hommes, que l'on nomme applications collaboratives, ou collecticiels. Le sujet de thèse proposé couvre les aspects collaboratifs d'un système et les questions concernant son intégration. Plus particulièrement, notre objectif essentiel est de concevoir une architecture logicielle pour les collecticiels malléables, de sorte qu'elle puisse s'adapter aux changements et aux diversités des besoins des utilisateurs, ainsi que la tâche à effectuer. En conséquence, une forte exigence surgit en terme d'ouverture, où le système peut dynamiquement intégrer de nouveaux services sans arrêter le déroulement de la collaboration, ni manuellement recoder et recompiler l'application. Une deuxième exigence est d'assurer une certaine adaptabilité, où le système peut générer de nouveaux comportements à partir de la composition de deux ou plusieurs services. Finalement, une exigence surgit en terme d'interopérabilité, surtout dans le cas où les utilisateurs utilisent des applications incompatibles ou hétérogènes. Ainsi, la création, l'ajout, la suppression ou la manipulation des composants du système collaboratif sont faites via les services web. De plus, la recherche, l'invocation et l'intégration de ces services se fait à l'aide d'agents logiciels qui se chargeront, avec une assistance minimale de l'utilisateur, de rechercher les services les mieux adaptés à leurs spécifications. Dans cette thèse, nous créons un lien entre les concepts théoriques qui se développent au sein des laboratoires de recherche, et les technologies qui se développent d'une façon très rapide dans le secteur industriel, afin de concevoir des systèmes collaboratifs plus adaptés au monde informatique quotidien. / The aim of CSCW (Computer Supported Cooperative Work) is to find ways in which applications should improve collaborative work between individuals. Hence, there is great need to address constraints related to the lack of flexibility and rigidity of current collaborative systems, through the adoption of adequate solutions to implement a better collaboration, depending on user' needs and the task that is being done. Therefore, the field of CSCW must evolve with the evolution of systems and technologies that affects our daily lives, especially the internet evolution that makes us completely dependent on the services and applications that "virtually" exist, where most people spend a lot of their time collaborating and exploiting methods to find and use services that meet their preferences. The development of CSCW systems appears essential to address the exponential growth of internet technologies to create or reuse applications to assist the community work of men, known as collaborative applications, or groupware. In this work, the thesis covers collaborative aspects of a system, and the questions concerning its integration. More specifically, the main objective is to provide a platform for "tailorable" collaboration, where the services offered by the groupware can be adapted to the changing and diverse needs of users. Accordingly, strong requirements arise in terms of adaptability, by composing or integrating new services without stopping the collaboration process and interoperability between the system's components, especially if users are using incompatible or heterogeneous applications. A proposed solution is to use the concepts of web services, integrated with the concepts of multi-agent systems (MAS). Thus, the creation, addition, deletion or dynamic manipulation of the system's components will be done via the web services. In addition, research, invocation and integration of these services will be done using software agents with minimal user assistance, depending on users' preferences. In this thesis, we try to build a bridge between theoretical concepts which are developed in research laboratories, and technologies being developed exponentially in the industrial sector, hence, creating a synergy of theory and concepts, to design more efficient collaborative systems, that are better suited to the everyday computing world.

No description available.

As a result of globalisation the cultural, political, economical and technological environments people live in today are becoming increasingly integrated and interdependent. It is common knowledge that the problems we face in these environments are almost always interdisciplinary, yet building interdisciplinary frameworks is still a niche in scientific research. This thesis addresses the problem of how to incorporate in an experimental interdisciplinary framework, diverse concepts from several independent scientific areas. This work is specifically about implementing results emerging from naturalistic studies, such as autobiographical memory, in the context of information and communication technologies within an interdisciplinary framework.

A significant challenge in the Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) research field is to find flexible and energy efficient strategies to perform the network setup and configuration to accomplish specified sensing missions. This thesis presents an approach which uses mobile agents to disseminate and allocate sensing missions to the sensor nodes. The addressed problem refers to the selection of appropriate nodes to perform the sensing mission, by using a decentralized approach supported by mobile software agents. Traditional approaches to deal with WSN setup use the pre-planned strategies, which are deliberately modelled, designed and tuned before the network deployment, and thus are not flexible. This thesis presents an alternative approach based on Belief Desire Intention-model agents using JASON, instead of traditional approaches. Simulation results provides evidences that this approach can achieve the goals of a sensing mission setup by decisions autonomously taken by the sensor node, diminishing then the need for communication among the sensor nodes, hence saving energy resources.

Thesis (Ph.D) - University of Karlsruhe, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references and index. Also available via the World Wide Web.

Yes / This paper presents a critical evaluation framework for a linguistically orientated conversational software agent (CSA) (Panesar, 2017). The CSA prototype investigates the integration, intersection and interface of the language, knowledge, and speech act constructions (SAC) based on a grammatical object (Nolan, 2014), and the sub-model of belief, desires and intention (BDI) (Rao and Georgeff, 1995) and dialogue management (DM) for natural language processing (NLP). A long-standing issue within NLP CSA systems is refining the accuracy of interpretation to provide realistic dialogue to support the human-to-computer communication. This prototype constitutes three phase models: (1) a linguistic model based on a functional linguistic theory – Role and Reference Grammar (RRG) (Van Valin Jr, 2005); (2) Agent Cognitive Model with two inner models: (a) knowledge representation model employing conceptual graphs serialised to Resource Description Framework (RDF); (b) a planning model underpinned by BDI concepts (Wooldridge, 2013) and intentionality (Searle, 1983) and rational interaction (Cohen and Levesque, 1990); and (3) a dialogue model employing common ground (Stalnaker, 2002). The evaluation approach for this Java-based prototype and its phase models is a multi-approach driven by grammatical testing (English language utterances), software engineering and agent practice. A set of evaluation criteria are grouped per phase model, and the testing framework aims to test the interface, intersection and integration of all phase models and their inner models. This multi-approach encompasses checking performance both at internal processing, stages per model and post-implementation assessments of the goals of RRG, and RRG based specifics tests. The empirical evaluations demonstrate that the CSA is a proof-of-concept, demonstrating RRG’s fitness for purpose for describing, and explaining phenomena, language processing and knowledge, and computational adequacy. Contrastingly, evaluations identify the complexity of lower level computational mappings of NL – agent to ontology with semantic gaps, and further addressed by a lexical bridging consideration (Panesar, 2017).

In order to succeed, it is imperative that all e-commerce systems include an effective and reliable trust and reputation modeling system. This is particularly true of decentralized e-commerce systems in which autonomous software engage in commercial transactions. Many researchers have sought to overcome the complexities of modeling a subjective, human concept like trust, resulting in several trust and reputation models. While these models each present a unique offering and solution to the problem, several issues persist. Most of the models require direct experience in the e-commerce system in order to make effective trust decisions. This leaves new agents and agents who only casually use the e-commerce system vulnerable. Additionally, the reputation ratings of agents who are relatively new to the system are often indistinguishable from scores for poorly performing agents. Finally, more tactics to defend against agents who exploit the characteristics of the open, distributed system for their own malicious needs are required. To address these issues, a new metric is devised and presented: seniority. Based on agent age and activity level within the e-commerce system, seniority provides a means of judging the credibility of other agents with little or no prior experience in the system. As the results of experimental analysis reveals, employing a reputation model that uses seniority provides considerable value to agents who are new agents, casual buyer agents and all other purchasing agents in the e-commerce system. This new metric therefore offers a significant contribution toward the development of enhanced and new trust and reputation models for deployment in real-world distributed e-commerce environments.

In order to succeed, it is imperative that all e-commerce systems include an effective and reliable trust and reputation modeling system. This is particularly true of decentralized e-commerce systems in which autonomous software engage in commercial transactions. Many researchers have sought to overcome the complexities of modeling a subjective, human concept like trust, resulting in several trust and reputation models. While these models each present a unique offering and solution to the problem, several issues persist. Most of the models require direct experience in the e-commerce system in order to make effective trust decisions. This leaves new agents and agents who only casually use the e-commerce system vulnerable. Additionally, the reputation ratings of agents who are relatively new to the system are often indistinguishable from scores for poorly performing agents. Finally, more tactics to defend against agents who exploit the characteristics of the open, distributed system for their own malicious needs are required. To address these issues, a new metric is devised and presented: seniority. Based on agent age and activity level within the e-commerce system, seniority provides a means of judging the credibility of other agents with little or no prior experience in the system. As the results of experimental analysis reveals, employing a reputation model that uses seniority provides considerable value to agents who are new agents, casual buyer agents and all other purchasing agents in the e-commerce system. This new metric therefore offers a significant contribution toward the development of enhanced and new trust and reputation models for deployment in real-world distributed e-commerce environments.

In order to succeed, it is imperative that all e-commerce systems include an effective and reliable trust and reputation modeling system. This is particularly true of decentralized e-commerce systems in which autonomous software engage in commercial transactions. Many researchers have sought to overcome the complexities of modeling a subjective, human concept like trust, resulting in several trust and reputation models. While these models each present a unique offering and solution to the problem, several issues persist. Most of the models require direct experience in the e-commerce system in order to make effective trust decisions. This leaves new agents and agents who only casually use the e-commerce system vulnerable. Additionally, the reputation ratings of agents who are relatively new to the system are often indistinguishable from scores for poorly performing agents. Finally, more tactics to defend against agents who exploit the characteristics of the open, distributed system for their own malicious needs are required. To address these issues, a new metric is devised and presented: seniority. Based on agent age and activity level within the e-commerce system, seniority provides a means of judging the credibility of other agents with little or no prior experience in the system. As the results of experimental analysis reveals, employing a reputation model that uses seniority provides considerable value to agents who are new agents, casual buyer agents and all other purchasing agents in the e-commerce system. This new metric therefore offers a significant contribution toward the development of enhanced and new trust and reputation models for deployment in real-world distributed e-commerce environments.

Ο σκοπός αυτής της διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι η θεωρητική μελέτη της τεχνολογίας των πρακτόρων λογισμικού και ο τρόπος εφαρμογής τους στο ηλεκτρονικό εμπόριο. Για να γίνει εφικτή η κατανόηση του όρου «τεχνολογία πρακτόρων» ξεκινάμε με τον όρο «πράκτορας». Στην έρευνα η οποία πραγματοποιήθηκε για τον προσδιορισμό των πρακτόρων λογισμικού, παρατηρήθηκε η ύπαρξη μιας πληθώρας διαφορετικών ορισμών, γεγονός το οποίο οφείλεται στην διαφορετική οπτική γωνία με την οποία ο καθένας τους αντιλαμβάνεται και τους μελετά. Ένας απλός ορισμός που θα μας εισάγει στην έννοια των πρακτόρων λογισμικού είναι ο ακόλουθος : «Ο πράκτορας είναι μια λογισμική οντότητα που ξέρει πώς να κάνει ενέργειες που θα μπορούσε να πραγματοποιήσει ένα λογικό ον (άνθρωπος) αν είχε το χρόνο.» Επιπλέον αναφέρουμε ποια χαρακτηριστικά πρέπει να συγκεντρώνουν για να λογίζονται ως ευφυείς πράκτορες λογισμικού. Η αντιδραστικότητα, ο προσανατολισμός στόχου, η δυνατότητα μάθησης, η αυτονομία, η δυνατότητα μεταφοράς, η επικοινωνία/συνεργασία και ο χαρακτήρας είναι τα χαρακτηριστικά εκείνα που είναι απαραίτητα για να θεωρηθεί μια λογισμική οντότητα ως ευφυής πράκτορας λογισμικού. Επίσης, μελετάμε και τις κατηγορίες των ευφυών πρακτόρων. Η κατηγοριοποίηση μπορεί να γίνει είτε με βάση τα χαρακτηριστικά τους, είτε με βάση τους ρόλους που καλούνται να διαδραματίσουν. Στη συνέχεια, προκειμένου να κατανοήσουμε την «τεχνολογία» τους, παρουσιάζουμε τον τρόπο με τον οποίο κατασκευάζονται, μέσα από τις γλώσσες και τα εργαλεία κατασκευής. Ακολούθως αναφέρουμε τα περιβάλλοντα των πρακτόρων, τα οποία μπορούν να ταξινομηθούν ανάλογα με τις ιδιότητες και τα χαρακτηριστικά τους καθώς αυτά έχουν άμεση επίδραση στο σχεδιασμό ενός πράκτορα και στη διαδικασία λήψης των αποφάσεών του. Στη συνέχεια μελετούμε την αρχιτεκτονική ενός πράκτορα, η οποία καθορίζει τα συστατικά του στοιχεία και τις αλληλεπιδράσεις μεταξύ τους. Με τη σειρά τους, τα συστατικά στοιχεία του πράκτορα και οι αλληλεπιδράσεις τους καθορίζουν τις ενέργειες του πράκτορα και τη μελλοντική του κατάσταση, σε σχέση με το ποια είναι τα δεδομένα που προσλαμβάνονται στα αισθητήρια όργανα του πράκτορα και το ποια είναι η τωρινή του εσωτερική του κατάσταση. Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία συνεχίζει με την μελέτη των πολυπρακτορικών συστημάτων, του τρόπου οργάνωσης τους, αλληλεπίδρασης και επικοινωνίας τους. Επιπλέον παρουσιάζουμε τις σημαντικότερες εφαρμογές ευφυών πρακτόρων, όπως η Διαχείριση Ηλεκτρονικών Μηνυμάτων (e–mail), η Αναζήτηση Πληροφοριών, τα Προσαρμοστικά Συστήματα Διεπαφής, το Ηλεκτρονικό Εμπόριο, η Διαχείριση Συστήματος και Δικτύου, η Απομακρυσμένη Πρόσβαση, η Συνεργασία και οι Ψυχαγωγικές εφαρμογές. Το ενδιαφέρον μας επικεντρώνεται περισσότερο, λόγω του θέματος της εργασίας μας, στο Ηλεκτρονικό Εμπόριο. Αναλύουμε τα πλεονεκτήματα, τα μειονεκτήματα καθώς και τις μορφές του. Επίσης γίνεται λόγος για τις ηλεκτρονικές αγορές, τη σημασία και τον ρόλο τους. Επιπλέον, καταθέτουμε κάποια στοιχεία για τα νομικά πλαίσια που διέπουν τη δημιουργία πρακτόρων. Γίνεται, επίσης, μια σύντομη αναφορά για τα θέματα ασφαλείας που αφορούν τη λειτουργία των πρακτόρων. Τέλος, παρουσιάζουμε ένα σύστημα ηλεκτρονικού εμπορίου βασισμένο στην τεχνολογία των ευφυών πρακτόρων λογισμικού. Για την κατασκευή του συστήματος χρησιμοποιήθηκε το εργαλείο κατασκευής πρακτόρων Zeus. Η εφαρμογή περιγράφει την υλοποίηση ενός απλού σεναρίου αγοράς, που ονομάζεται Ηλεκτρονική Αγορά. Σκοπός της εφαρμογής είναι να επιτρέπει στους συμμετέχοντες της αγοράς να ανταλλάσσουν ηλεκτρονικά αγαθά μέσω του διαδικτύου με χρήση ευφυών πρακτόρων λογισμικού. Η διπλωματική εργασία ολοκληρώνεται με τους προβληματισμούς που υπάρχουν γύρω από τη δημιουργία πραγματικών εφαρμογών πρακτόρων στο ηλεκτρονικό εμπόριο. / The aim of this diploma thesis is the theoretical study of the software agents technology and their way of application in e-commerce. In order to be feasible the comprehension of term “technology of agents” we begin with the term “agent”. In the research which was realised for the determination of software agents, existence of abundance of different definitions was observed, something which is owed in the different optical corner with which each one conceives them and studies them. A simple definition that will import us in the significance of agents of software is the attaché: “The agent is a computational entity that knows how to make energies that a reasonable being (person) could realise a if it had the time.” Moreover we report which characteristics they should assemble in order to characterize them as intelligent software agents. Reactiveness, the orientation of the goal, the possibility of learning, the autonomy, the possibility of transport, the communication/collaboration and the character are the characteristics that are essential in order to consider a computational entity as intelligent software agents. Also, we study the categories of intelligent software agents. The categorisation can be done either based to their characteristics, either based to the roles that they are called to play. Afterwards, in order to understand their “technology”, we present the way they are manufactured, through the languages and the tools of manufacture. Followingly we report the environments of agents, which can be categorized depending on the attributes and their characteristics, also they have direct effect in the planning of agent and in the process of his decision-making. Afterwards we study the architecture of agent, which determines his constitutive elements and the interactions from each other. At their time, the constitutive elements of an agent and their interactions determine the energies of agent and his future situation, in combination which are the data that are engaged in the sensory bodies of agent and which is his actual internal situation. The present diploma thesis continues with the study of multiagent systems, their way of organisation, interaction and their communication. Moreover we present the most important applications of intelligent software agents, as the Management of Electronic Messages (e-mail), the Search of Information, the Adoptive Systems of Contact, the Electronic Commerce, the Management of System and Network, the Removed Access, the Collaboration and the Recreational applications. Our interest is most focused, because of the subject of our diploma thesis, in the Electronic Commerce. We analyze the advantages, the disadvantages as well as his forms. Also, we report the electronic markets, their importance and their role. Moreover, we deposit certain elements for the legal frames that condition the creation of agents. Also, a short report, on the subjects of safety that concern the operation of agents, is done. Finally, we present a system of electronic commerce based on the technology of intelligent software agents. For the manufacture of system was used the tool of manufacture of agents Zeus. The application describes the concretisation of simple script of market, that is named Electronic Market. Aim of application is to allow in participating the market to exchange electronic goods via the internet with use of intelligent software agents. The diploma thesis is completed with the reflections that exist round the creation of real applications of agents in the electronic commerce.