ACTS Programme AC338

ACTS Programme

MMobile obile IIntelligent ntelligent AAgents for gents for

MManaging the Information anaging the Information

IInfrastructurenfrastructure

ACTS Programme AC338ACTS Programme AC338

ACTS ProgrammePresentation

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci

German National Research Center for Information Technology

(GMD)

Research Institute for Open Communication Systems

(FOKUS)

Intelligent Mobile Agent Center of Competence

(IMA-CC)

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

SeattleGeneral Project Information

Duration: March 1998 until February 2000

Budget: ~ 400 man-months

Web Site:

www.fokus.gmd.de/research/cc/ima/miami

Contact: Dr.-Ing. Stefan CovaciProject Manager

GMD FOKUS e-mail: [email protected]

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

SeattleMIAMI Project Partners

P01 GMD FOKUS, Germany (Prime Contractor)

P02 Alcatel Bell, Belgium A02A Alcatel CIT, France P03 University College London, UK A03A Imperial College of Science, Technology

and Medicine, UK A03B The University of Surrey, UK P04 Algosystems SA, Greece P05 Centre de Recherche Informatique de

Montréal (CRIM), Canada P06 France Télécom CNET, France P07 Hitachi Ltd., Japan

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

SeattleMIAMI Main Objectives

The MIAMI project focuses on the following objectives:

Development and validation of a uniform mobile intelligent agent framework according to the requirements of an open European Information Infrastructure (EII)

Convergence of the OMG MASIF and FIPA mobility specifications

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

SeattleMIAMI Main Objectives (cont.)

Development of agent-based solutions for managing the open EII and provision of Advanced Communication and Information (ACI) services

Contribution to standardisation Demonstration of results in a pan-

European trial

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

SeattleMIAMI Key Issues

Pan-European cooperative management of advanced telecommunications and information services

Interaction between management systems of different management domains in an Electronic Commerce context

Business-process-driven relationship between the service management layer and the network management layer

Security in agent based systems (platforms and applications)

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

SeattleScope of MIAMI

The MIAMI project will focus on: The investigation of benefits gained

from the mobility of agent intelligence in the context of telecommunications management and ACI services, and

Implementation and validation of the MIAMI framework in a pan-European test-bed with selected network management and ACI service scenarios.

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

SeattleOutside the Scope

The MIAMI project will not focus on: Developing and validating solutions

for interoperability among heterogeneous agents or agent systems

Developing and validating an extended agent communication language

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

SeattleSecurity in MIAMI

MIAMI focuses on security solutions supporting the deployment of the MIA technology in open electronic commerce environments:

Authentication of agents and agencies Access control to agencies‘ resources Secure agent interactions Secure agent transport

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

SeattleCurrent State of MIAMI

Completed activities: Mobile agent platforms evaluation

Selected initial platform: Grasshopper of IKV++ Agent platform enhancement requirements analysis

Deliverable D1 (August 1998)

Activities in progress: Enhanced agent platform specification and design Application case studies

Subsequent activities: Platform enhancements implementation (start

11/1998) Applications design and implementation (start

01/1999)

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

SeattleMIAMI Deliverables

The MIAMI Project will produce the following deliverables:

D1 Platform Enhancement Requirements08/98

D2 Platform Enhancement Specification11/98

D3 Case Studies 01/99 D4 Case Study Prototypes

09/99

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

SeattleTechnical Approach

The MIAMI project develops: An improved MIA platform and Two trial applications based on it:

The Active Virtual Pipe (AVP) and • Demonstration of network and service

management based on agents The Virtual Enterprise Builder (VEB)

• Demonstration of agent based applications and communication services

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

Seattle

Active Virtual PipePro-active component of the MIAMI information and communication infrastructure:

Provision of advanced communication and connectivity services in the business context (dynamic “VPN” - resources on demand)

Agent based network management: QoS management Fault management Configuration management

Use of multiple transport network providers Spot market for network resources Provision of basic VE management services

(generic workflow management capabilities)

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

SeattleVirtual Enterprise Builder

Interactive tool for creation and administration of a VE with support for:

Finding business partners Negotiating among business partners Creating the VE contract Automatically configuring the AVP

according to the contract Monitoring and managing VE activities

(generic workflow management support)

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

Seattle

Offers resouresSearchs for Connectivity Provider

Virtual Enterprise

Contract negotiation

VE Initiator

Administration

VE Administrator

MIAMI Enterprise Model

Service Provider

SubscriberConsumer

AVP Provider

Vir

tua

l M

ark

et

Pla

ce

Pro

vid

er

Connectivity Provider

Content Provider

Offers resoures

Offers resoures

Searchs for service

Searchs AVP Provider

Searchs for business partners

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

Seattle

VE Initiator

Agents in Market Place(Example)

By the use of the VEB he activates and configures a match maker agent to find business partners for these roles ...

The virtual enterprise initiator identifies the business roles and the business processes.

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

Seattle

Virtual Market PlaceVirtual Market Place

...and sends the match maker agent to the virtual market place.

Agents in Market Place(Example)

VE InitiatorVE Initiator

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

Seattle

Meanwhile: Some companies/brokers have sent advertising agents to the VMP.

Agents in Market Place(Example)

VE Initiator Service A1

Service A2

Service A3

Company X

Company Y

Company Z

Virtual Market PlaceVirtual Market Place

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

Seattle

Service A2

Service A3

Service A1How much? ...

Service A2

Service A3

Service A1

Service A2

Service A3

Service A1

80 Stones

How much? ...

Service A2

Service A3

Service A1

Service A2

Service A3

Service A170 Stones

How much? ...

Service A2

Service A3

Service A1

100 Stones

Service A2

Service A3

Service A1

Sophisticated negotiations are possible.

Agents in Market Place(Example)

VE Initiator

Company X

Company Y

Company Z

Virtual Market PlaceVirtual Market Place

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

Seattle

Finally, the match maker agent selects a business partner.

Agents in Market Place(Example)

VE Initiator

Company X

Company Y

Company Z

???

Service A2

Service A3

Service A1

Virtual Market PlaceVirtual Market Place

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

Seattle

He continues searching for other partners ...

Agents in Market Place(Example)

VE Initiator

Company X

Company Y

Company Z

Service A1

Service A2

Service A3

Virtual Market PlaceVirtual Market Place

... or goes back to present results.

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

Seattle

Components of the MIAMI Framework

BusinessProcess

Virtual EnterpriseManagement

Virtual EnterpriseBuilder

Generic WorkflowManagement

ConnectivityManagement

Generic CPConfigurator

Market PlaceCPManagement

VirtualEnterpriseDomain

VirtualMarketPlaceDomain

ConnectivityProviderDomain

ActiveVirtualPipeProviderDomain

Generic AVPConfiguratorGeneric AVPConfigurator

ConnectivityManagement

BusinessProcess

Generic CPConfigurator

CPManagement

Generic WorkflowManagement

Virtual EnterpriseManagement

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

Seattle

Application of Agents in MIAMI

V E M a n a g e m e n t

V i r t u a l E n t e r p r i s e D o m a i n

A c t i v e P i p e V i r t u a l

I n t e r a c t i v e

V E -B u i l d e r

C o n t r a c t

W o r k f l o w C o n tr o l

a n d M a n a g e m e n t

A p p l i c a t i o n

B O

B O

B O

B O

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

B u s i n e s s P r o c e ss

A V P P r o v i d e r D o m a i n

V E C r e a t i o n

A V P - I F

V E M a n a g e m e n t D a t a

V E M a n a g e m e n t

C o n n e c t i v i t y P r o v i d e r D o m a i n

C P - I F D C M - I F

V i r t u a l M a r k e t

P l a ce D o m a i n

M a r k e t P l a c e

M a r k e t P l a c e

M a r k e t P l a c e

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

D X M - I F D W M - I F

G e n e r i c C P - C o n f i g u r a t o r

G e n e r i c W o r k f l o w

M g m t . F a c i l i t y

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t G e n e r i c A V P - C o n f i g u r a t o r

C o n n e c t i v i t y

M a n a g e m e n t

T r a n s p o r t N e t wo r k

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

C P M a n a g e m e n t

A g e n t E x e c u t i on

E n v i r o n m e n t

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

T ra n sp o r t N e tw o rk

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

C P M a n a g e m e n t

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

T r a n s p o r t N e t w o r k

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

C P M a n a g e m e n t

A g e nt E x e c u t i o n

E n v ir o n m e n t

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

T r a n s p o r t N e t w o r k

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

C P M a n a g e m e n t

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

A g e n t E x e c u t i o n

E n v i r o n m e n t

Legend:

AVP Active Virtual PipeBO Business ObjectCP Connectivity ProviderDCM Dynamic Connectivity ManagementDWM Dynamic Workflow ManagementDXM Dynamic Extranet MangementIF InterfaceVE Virtual Enterprise

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

Seattle

Application Fields of Agents in MIAMI

Provision of high-level, dynamically programmable interfaces

Agent-based system components Service and Network Management Resource Management Brokering and market place negotiations Contract negotiation between VE

participants Generic Workflow Management

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

SeattleMIAMI Trial Scenario

Real business scenario Creation and running of a virtual enterprise

with distributed participants Demonstration of the graphical Virtual

Enterprise Builder Creation and administration of VE

Demonstration of the Active Virtual Pipe Provision and dynamic, role-based

management of connectivity Support for administration of VE

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

Seattle

Video Archive

DocumentArchive

Secretary

Webserver &Data Storage

Students

LecturerTranslationBureau

Proof-reader

MIAMI Trial Scenario (cont.)

Virtual Euro Consulting company provides:

Interactive lectures about the Euro on demand.

Access to a video archive. Access to a document

archive. Possibility to submit papers

independent of its language, which will be translated if necessary, proof-read, marked, and stored on the web server.

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

Seattle

Expected Achievements MIAMI will clarify the potential of MIA

technology regarding the: Reduction of management traffic load on and increase

of the availability of underlying networks Increase of efficiency and flexibility of the provisioning

and execution of management procedures Reduction of prerequisite consumer knowledge for

installation and operation of the solutions MIAMI will demonstrate the suitability of the MIA

technology in electronic commerce applications: Security services Transactional services (long life transactions) Customisation services

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Covaci GMD FOKUS

OMG Technical Meeting

Electronic Commerce DTFSeptember 1998

SeattleSummary

The major goal of the MIAMI project is to develop a uniform mobile intelligent agent platform with facilities for:

Network and service management Security management Advanced communication and information services

and validate the platform within a pan-European virtual enterprise trial scenario.

MIAMI concentrates on the OMG MASIF paradigm but also considers integration/convergence with FIPA.

MIAMI will contribute to the next OMG Agent Standard.