Package drm.agentbase

The agent layer defines a very basic core functionality for handling mobile agents.

See:
          Description

Interface Summary
IAgent This interface defines the agent functionality required by the Base.
IBase This is the functionality the base offers to its agents.
IBaseListener The base sends information about itself trough this interface.
ILogListener Interface that should be implemented by handlers that are registered to handle messages received by Logger.
IRequest Interface to handle assync requests.
 

Class Summary
Address This is for addressing all entities, ie agents and bases.
Base A class to host mobile agents.
JobClassLoader Every agent that lives on a Base must have a classloader of this type.
Logger Static class that serves as an entry point for logging information.
Message The classtype of a message that agents and bases can send to each other.
StaticRequest A convinience class to return requests that are actually not assyncronous to conform to the interface.
 

Exception Summary
LaunchImpossibleException It is thorwn when a launching of an agent is not possible due to an unsatisfyable wish, lack of information or special parameter settings.
 

Package drm.agentbase Description

The agent layer defines a very basic core functionality for handling mobile agents. This layer is simpler, contains less possibilities than many sophisticated agents systems. This is because the special requirements and goals of the architecture.

The layer defines the concept of a base and the agent as the two building blocks of an agent system. The idea is that the base is a container or playground of agents. Agents live in bases. The base provides services that the agents can use when moving to another base or when they need information about the environment or when the want to communicate with other agents or bases. The base provides services not only to its agents but to its environment too. Agents can be added, the list of agents can be asked for, etc.

Two more basic concepts are defined: the address and the message. These are quite self-explaining. Every base and agent has an address and messages can be sent between bases and agents, agents and agents and bases and bases.