Task: Identify Preliminary Interaction Model
Task sourced from Gaia
Purpose
The purpose of this task is to capture the dependencies and relationships between the various roles in the MAS organization in terms of one protocol definition for each type of inter-role interaction.
Relationships
RolesPrimary Performer: Additional Performers:
InputsMandatory:
    		Optional:
      Outputs
        Process Usage
        Main Description

        This task consists of defining the basic protocols (also called interactions) required to accomplish the MAS roles, and produce a preliminary version of the Interaction Model containing such protocols definitions. Therefore, at the end of this task the Interaction Model may not be completly defined.

         

        A protocol definition consists of the following attributes:

        - Protocol Name: brief textual description capturing the nature of the interaction (e.g., “information request”, “schedule activity X” and “assign task Y”);

        - Initiator:  the role(s) responsible for starting the interaction;

        - Partner:  the responder role(s) with which the initiator interacts;

        - Inputs: information used by the role initiator while enacting the protocol;

        - Outputs: information supplied by the protocol responder during interaction;

        - Description:  textual description explaining the purpose of the protocol and the processing activities implied in its execution.

         

             A  more detailed protocol definition (including, e.g., the sequencing of messages within the protocol) can be added at any time to complement our rather conceptual definition and provide more specific guidelines for design and implementation. For instance, the AUML notation could serve this purpose.See Developing multiagent systems: The Gaia methodology for more information about this task.
        Steps
        Identifying protocol
        Outline protocol name and description
        Outlining protocol initiator and partner
        Outline the role(s) responsible for starting the interaction and the responder role(s) with which the initiator interacts.
        Outlining protocol input and output
        Outline information used by the role initiator while enacting the protocol and information supplied by the protocol responder during interaction.
        Alternatives

        The purpose of this Medee Task Variability is to extend the Gaia Task Identify Preliminary Interaction Model .in order to insert Medee Basic roles, and to replace original work products by the related Medee Work Products variability.

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