Executing explicitly represented protocols

This paper describes an approach that enables agents to execute any interaction protocol that can be expressed in the proposed XML representation. Therefore, agents will be capable of executing any protocol representation received in run-time. In our approach, explicitly represented protocols are converted in an agent internal structure more suitable for being processed than XML. The internal representation of the protocol is converted to a set of production rules that control the behaviour of the agent according to the protocol. The used XML representation, which closely mirrors AUML protocol diagrams, is defined by an XML Schema. The proposal defines a protocol independent interface between the agent private decision processes and the protocol execution process through which the agent can inform the protocol execution process of its decisions regarding protocol alternative courses of action. Workshop Topics and Area