Knowledge Query and Manipulation Language

Abstract: We investigate the semantics for Knowledge Query Manipulation Language (KQML) and we propose a semantic framework for the language. KQML is a language and a protocol to support communication between software agents. Based on ideas from speech act theory, we propose a semantic description for KQML that associates descriptions of the cognitive states of agents with the use of the language's primitives (performatives). We use this approach to describe the semantics for the basic set of KQML performatives. We also investigate implementation issues related to our semantic approach. We suggest that KQML can offer an all purpose communication language for software agents that requires no limiting pre-commitments on the agents' structure and implementation. KQML can provide the Distributed AI, Cooperative Distributed Problem Solving and Software Agents communities with an all purpose language and environment for intelligent inter-agent communication.

Abstract: The rise of the Internet and the growth of distributed computing have led to a major paradigm shift in software engineering and computer science. Until recently, the notion of computation has been variously construed as numerical calculation, as information processing, or as intelligent symbol analysis, but increasingly, it is now viewed as distributed cognition and interaction between intelligent entities [60]. This new view has major implications for the conceptualization, design, engineering and control of software systems, most profoundly expressed in the concept of systems of intelligent software agents, or multi-agent systems [99]. Agents are software entities with control over their own execution; the design of such agents, and of multi-agent systems of them, presents major research and software engineering challenges to computer scientists. One key challenge is the design of means of communication between intelligent agents. Considerable research effort has been expended on the design of artificial languages for agent communications, such as DARPA’s Knowledge Query and Manipulation Language (KQML) [33] and the Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents’ (now IEEE FIPA) Agent Communications Language (FIPA ACL) [35]. These languages, and languages like them, have been designed to be widely applicable. As well as being a strength, this feature can also be a weakness: agents participating in conversations have too many choices of what to utter at each turn, and thus agent dialogues may endure a state-space explosion. Allowing sufficient flexibility of expression while avoiding state-space explosion had led agent communications researchers to the study of formal dialogue games; these are rule-governed interactions between two or more players (or agents), where

Abstract: We describe a language and protocol intended to support interoperability among intelligent agents in a distributed application. Examples of applications envisioned include intelligent multi-agent design systems as well as intelligent planning, scheduling and replanning agents supporting distributed transportation planning and scheduling applications. The language, KQML for Knowledge Query and Manipulation Language, is part of a larger DARPA-sponsored Knowledge Sharing e ort focused on developing techniques and tools to promote the sharing on knowledge in intelligent systems. e will de ne the concepts which underly KQML and attempt to specify its scope and provide a model for how it will be used. Please send comments to Tim Finin, Computer Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore MD 21228; nin@cs.umbc.edu; 410-455-3522 or to Don Mckay, Paramax Systems Corporation, PO Box 517, Paoli PA 19301; mckay@prc.unisys.com; 215-648-2256. This work is partly supported by DARPA and Rome Laboratory under USAF contract F30602-91-C-0040. **** DRAFT **** 1 **** DRAFT ****