Ontology-based Communication Architecture Within a Distributed Case-Based Retrieval System for Architectural Designs

The communication and cooperation of agents is one of the key features of the multi-agent systems theory. In this work we discuss how the agents can communicate by means of applying a domain-specific ontology for the purpose of case-based retrieval of similar architectural designs. The domain ontology and the corresponding communication patterns are parts of the communication architecture of the distributed case-based retrieval system MetisCBR. We also present a vision of the results explanation component that enhances the existing architecture with own patterns and concepts and is able to recognize the corresponding contexts in search results returned by the system.