MAP - a Language for the Modelling of Multi-Agent Systems

This paper presents a distributed object-oriented language, called Multi-Agent Programming language, whose features are suitable to develop multi-agent systems. This language is based on an object, called agent, (i) performing private actions, (ii) communicating with other agents, and (iii) re-configuring system structure through the creation of other agents and changing its behaviour. The main feature of this language is the use of a large set of communication primitives, defined on the spirit of Speech Act theory, which are suitable to model agent interactions and which can be specialised to implement specific communication protocols. In particular, the paper shows how these primitives are suitable to model negotiation protocols.