6.1 Distributed computing platform

Distributed computing allows application program elements running on different hardware platform. MAGE is a distributed computing platform, and may be distributed on different host. MAGE is built on JAVA RMI and hides all implementation details from users, thus presents a unified computing environment for users. MAGE can support building distributed application easily.

6.2 Agent-oriented software design with a GUI

In specifying an agent system, we have found that it is highly desirable to adopt an external viewpoint. The description of an agent system from the external viewpoint is captured in two models: Agent Model describes the hierarchical relationship among different abstract and concrete agent classes and identities the agent instances which may exist within the system their multiplicity and when they come into existence. Interaction Model describes the responsibilities of an agent class: the services it provides associated interactions and control relationships between agent classes. This includes the syntax and semantics of messages used for inter-agent communication and communication between agents and other system components: such as user interfaces. According to the two models, MAGE provides a graphic tool for agent-oriented software design: XMIDE, it is shown in Fig 5.

6.3 Open and FIPA compliant

The Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents (FIPA) is an international organization that is dedicated to promoting the industry of intelligent agents by openly developing specifications supporting interoperability among agents and agent-based applications. MAGE is not isolated, it is open and FIPA compliant, so it can communicate with any agent system complying with FIPA. Agentcities is a worldwide initiative designed to help realize the commercial and research potential of agent based applications by constructing a worldwide, open network of platforms hosting diverse agent based services. The ultimate aim is to enable the dynamic, intelligent and autonomous composition of services to achieve user and business goals, thereby creating compound services to address changing needs. Up to now (2002-10-9) there are sixty agent platforms connected to agentcities.net. Our MAGE platform connected with agentcities successfully in 2002-4, and is the only agent platform connected with agentcities in China, and also become the second agent platform in Asia that connected with agentcities.

6.4 Multiple schemes of software reuses

Software reuse can speed software development, reduce time to market and save resources, and so MAGE provides three kinds of method to reuse software (agent software or non-agent software coded in any language):

• Embedded

• Executes from outside the system

• Dynamic link library (DLL) Through these methods, MAGE can provide software reuse in different granularity:

• Reuse of application systems

• Reuse of sub-systems

• Reuse of components

Reuse of functionsMultiple methods of agent generation MAGE provides three methods of agent generation: Directly extends basic Agent class of MAGE This method aims at building new applications from MAGE. Agent Description Language (ADL) ADL is used to describe the attributes (name, address, capabilities, etc) of an agent, and then MAGE can generate an agent according to this information and this agent has the corresponding attributes. This method aims at reusing software.