A Nested Petri Net Framework for Modeling and Analyzing Multi-Agent Systems

Abstract

In the past two decades, multi-agent systems (MAS) have emerged as a new paradigm for conceptualizing large and complex distributed software systems. A multi-agent system view provides a natural abstraction for both the structure and the behavior of modern-day software systems. Although there were many conceptual frameworks for using multi-agent systems, there was no well established and widely accepted method for modeling multi-agent systems. This dissertation research addressed the representation and analysis of multi-agent systems based on model-oriented formal methods. The objective was to provide a systematic approach for studying MAS at an early stage of system development to ensure the quality of design.Given that there was no well-defined formal model directly supporting agent-oriented modeling, this study was centered on three main topics: (1) adapting a well-known formal model, predicate transition nets (PrT nets), to support MAS modeling; (2) formulating a modeling methodology to ease the construction of formal MAS models; and (3) developing a technique to support machine analysis of formal MAS models using model checking technology. PrT nets were extended to include the notions of dynamic structure, v agent communication and coordination to support agent-oriented modeling. An aspectoriented technique was developed to address the modularity of agent models and compositionality of incremental analysis. A set of translation rules were defined to systematically translate formal MAS models to concrete models that can be verified through the model checker SPIN (Simple Promela Interpreter).This dissertation presents the framework developed for modeling and analyzing MAS, including a well-defined process model based on nested PrT nets, and a comprehensive methodology to guide the construction and analysis of formal MAS models.

Towards a Meta-Modeling and Verification Approach of Multi-Agent Systems Based on the Agent Petri Net Formalism

“…Petri nets are considered as an excellent tool that can be used to model and analyze discrete event systems [3,5]. Several Petri net extensions have been proposed and implemented including: Colored Petri Nets (CPN) [6,7] Nets Within Nets (NWN) [7,9], Nested Petri Nets (NPN) [10,11] and object petri nets [12]. On the other hand, the multi-agent systems (MAS) offer an interesting solution for mastering, optimizing and controlling the complexity of large systems [13,14].…”

Behavioral Modeling of Multi Agent System

“…In recent years, several research efforts (Chatterjee et al, 2011;Moldt et al, 1997;Marzougui et al, 2010;Celaya et al, 2009;Bai et al, 2004;Chainbi, 2004;Pujari et al, 2012;Perše et al, 2010;Chang, 2012;Jun et al, 2010) have been done to model and analyze the behavior of MAS using Petri Net based approach. Among them, (Chatterjee et al, 2011;Celaya et al, 2009;Chainbi, 2004;Pujari et al, 2012) are based on basic PN based approaches.…”

“…In few approaches (Marzougui et al, 2010;Perše et al, 2010;Chang, 2012;Xu et al, 2000) High Level Petri Net based approaches has been used. Marzougui et al, (2010) has defined a new formalism for Modelling Multi Agent Systems (MAS) based on Agent PN has been presented.…”

“…The definition of this model helps in modelling the internal state and the dynamic behavior of an agent in MAS efficiently. Chang, (2012) has developed a process model based on PrT nets to address the modeling of multi-agent systems. A methodology for constructing formal MAS models has also been developed.…”