A LOGIC-BASED LANGUAGE FOR NETWORKED AGENTS

This paper presents a logic based language, SAFIN, for developing netw orked software agents. It integrates agent-oriented programming, KQML and basic mobile techniques to support intelligent behaviors, software interoperatablity and code transportability. As prototype based logic objects, agents are composed of network connections, knowledge bases (facts and beliefs), databases, behaviors, constraints, services, goal s and KQML performatives. An approach to non-monotonic inheritance wit h both predicate level and clause level knowledge reuse is proposed an d formally defined. Multi-level components and the interfaces to FTP s ervices and relational database systems are also provided for developi ng specific distributed agents. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.This paper presents a logic based language, SAFIN, for de veloping networked software agents. It integrates agent-oriented progr amming, KQML and basic mobile techniques to support intelligent behavi ors, software interoperatablity and code transportability. As prototyp e based logic objects, agents are composed of network connections, kno wledge bases (facts and beliefs), databases, behaviors, constraints, s ervices, goals and KQML performatives. An approach to non-monotonic in heritance with both predicate level and clause level knowledge reuse i s proposed and formally defined. Multi-level components and the interf aces to FTP services and relational database systems are also provided for developing specific distributed agents. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.