An architecture for dynamic and evolving cooperative software agents

This paper presents an architectural model to construct cooperative and evolutionary agent-based software systems. Here, a software system is defined as one consisting of a set of agents which interact by executing actions and by determining system functionality. Because the agents need intercommunication and coordination, we propose a model that allows this communication between agents and preserves system activity. This coordination model uses a blackboard as the means of communication between the system agents. The system architecture presented is dynamic in the sense that the modelled system can evolve and be adapted to its new functions. To do this, we distinguish two levels in the architecture: the system and the meta-system levels. The system level describes the system's structure and its functionality, while the meta-system level allows us to effect changes in the system in such a way as to preserve the system's integrity and restrictions. Modifications at the system level are carried out when the developer interacts at the meta-system level. System users interact only at the system level. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.