A Framework for Modelling Multi-agent Systems

Modelling and reasoning about multi-agent systems has been one of the main problems for designers of distributed systems. In this paper we present a logical framework for representing and reasoning about these systems. The framework uses the idea of contexts as presented by Giunchiglia and his colleagues and the ideas regarding multi-agent systems as presented by Morley, George , and Rao. The notion of context and the ideas of a modular representation of multi-agent systems have been combined together to provide a logical framework that possesses features that are central to Object Oriented (OO) Analysis and Design. In addition to these OO features the framework also allows the designer to model multi-agent concepts: joint goals, mutual beliefs, and joint intentions, concepts that are central in a multi-agent system.