FOUNDATION FOR INTELLIGENT PHYSICAL AGENTS

Document title	Resolutions from the Pleasanton, USA, October 2001 Meeting
Document number	f-out-00101	Document source	Board of Directors
Document status	Preliminary	Date of this status	Date as: 2001/10/12
Change history
	Initial draft

Resolutions of the 23^rd FIPA meeting in Pleasanton,CA
October 8-12, 2001.

1. FIPA recognises the expiration of the terms of

Geoff Arnold (Sun)

Bernard Burg (HP)

Rob Hadingham (Emorphia) and

Kiyoshi Kogure (NTT),

as members of the Board of Directors. FIPA thanks them for their valuable efforts in helping FIPA achieve its goals so far.

Francis McCabe (Fujitsu)

Heimo Laamanen (Sonera), and

Donald Steiner (WebV2),

are continuing their terms on the Board of Directors.

2. Following an election held by the general assembly, FIPA appoints

Michael Berger (Siemens),

Bernard Burg (HP),

Monique Calisti (EPFL) and

Kiyoshi Kogure (NTT),

to the Board of Directors as per vote by the General Assembly.

3. FIPA notes the report of the Board of Directors concerning

· The election of the following officers and positions of the Board of Directors as per the FIPA Statutes:

President	Francis McCabe
Vice-President	Bernard Burg
Secretary	Bernard Burg
Treasurer	Donald Steiner
Chair, Finance and Audit Committee	Heimo Laamanen
Chair, Membership and Nominating Committee	Michael Berger
Chair, Image Committee	Monique Calisti

· The composition of the Finance and Audit Committee

Name	Affiliation	Country
Heimo Laamanen (Chair)	Sonera	Finland
David Levine	IBM	US
Hiroki Suguri	ComTec	JP

· The board recognizes the extraordinary contribution of the following FIPA members to FIPA’s goals over the last year:

Nina Berry

Jonathan Dale

Heikki Helin

David Levine

Jim Odell

John Shepherdson

Steven Willmott

· The board recommends the establishment of an advisory board to give advice from time to time to the board relating to the future direction of FIPA and to relevant trends in Industry that may affect FIPA’s role.

· The board requests that the secretariat purchase a FIPA projector for use in future FIPA meetings.

· The board proposes that the following new technical committees and special interest groups be established:

· TC Semantics

· TC Compliance

· FIPA for Business Applications (F4BA) SIG

· The times and locations of the next 3 meetings in 2001:

Meeting	Dates	Location	Country	Host
24^th	Feb 11^th–15^th 2002	Lausanne	Switzerland	EPFL
25^th	May 6^th-10^th 2002	Vancouver	Canada	University of Calgary
26^th	July 2002	Helsinki	Finland	Sonera

4. FIPA revises its Statutes (f-out-00060A). Proposed changes to the following sections in the statutes were voted on and unanimously approved at the meeting:

· Article 9.3, The Membership and Nominating Committee, 3^rd Bullet point

· Article 4.5, Terms and Conditions, 2^nd Paragraph

· Article 4.8.2, Intellectual Property Rights of FIPA

5. FIPA approves the Secretariat’s report of the previous three months (f-out-00103).

FIPA requests that the secretariat remind all committee chairs to update their relevant sections of the FIPA website with current information.

6. On the proposal of the Finance and Audit Committee, FIPA approves

· the 2000-2001 accounts (f-out-00096)

· the 2000-2001 Balance Sheet (f-out-00097)

· the 2001-2002 budget (f-out-00100)

7. FIPA appoints KPMG as auditors for the 2001-2002 accounts.

8. Resolutions of Technical Committees, Working Groups, and Special Interest Groups

FIPA Architecture Board Resolutions

The FAB proposes that FIPA adopt the following resolutions.

To create an Interoperability Working Group; with a chair to be named. The remit of the Interoperability WG is to set up and run interoperability trials at future meetings, to provide feedback on specifications and to develop and extend interoperability scenarios. This WG has a broader remit than original work plan, so we request an updated work plan.

We request that the secretariat establish a new mailing list interoperability@fipa.org to support this activity.

To create a new TC to support FIPA’s work in compliance, chaired by Michael Berger and co-chaired by David Levine. The remit of TC compliance is to generate Conformance Profiles for FIPA specifications, a conformance methodology for use by the FIPA community. TC Compliance is expected to work closely with the Interoperability WG.

TC Architecture Resolutions

TC Architecture proposes that FIPA adopt the following resolutions.

Create a new document number PC00094 initially a copy of XC0001 (AA specification)
Start work on incorporating proposals for service models into PC00094
Generate a separate specification document describing the Abstract Content Representation (PC00095)
To accept input from various parties about the structure of the ACR.

TC Semantics Resolutions

TC Semantics proposes that FIPA adopt the following resolutions

· TC Semantics agrees to follow the workplan f-wp-00016 to establish a semantic framework that can account for contracts, conversations, social and other relationships between agents.

· TC Semantics requests that FIPA issues the call for information contained in FIPA TC Semantics Call for Information, (f-out-00099).

· TC Semantics gratefully thanks: Geoff Arnold, Bernard Burg, Patricia Charlton, Stephen Cranefield, Jonathan Dale, Dominic Greenwood, Yuh-Yong Hu, Mike Kerstetter, Bob Krause, David Levine, Antonio Lopes, Margaret Lyell, Francis McCabe, Kristin Ming, James Odell, Martin Purvis, Sergrogaio, Mike Stockman, Misty Nodine, Donald Steiner, Hiroki Suguri, Steven Willmott

TC Ontology resolutions

The Ontology TC proposes that FIPA adopt the following resolutions:

Comprehensive set of requirements through the use cases
Recommended updated time-line for the workplan
Feedback from the FIPA community of the impact of ontologies on the specifications.
Agreement and completion of a second RFI call which is more precise about the FIPA ontological needs:

1. Fundamental requirements for agents and their use of ontologies. This includes representation languages for ontologies and the requirements of these languages by agents

2. Upper ontologies which may specifically cover Policies, Conventions, Social and cultural contracts that address accountability between agents, Generic translation between concepts and Matchmaking

3. Service ontological modelling requirements and agent use.

4. Types of ontological translation services that are needed by agent systems

5. What domains specific use of ontologies impose upon ontology representation language.

6. Ontology requirements on agent conversations and communication languages

Agreement on the initial white paper and first draft
Publish documents FIPA-in-00043 Ontology slides, FIPA-in-00044 Negotiation, FIPA-in-00045 Draft white paper
To thank Jonathan Dale, Bernard Burg, Antonio Lopez, Seigio Gaio, David Levine, Margaret Lyell, Misty Nodine, Martin Purvis, Yuh-Jong Hu, Frank McCabe, Stephen Cranefield, Rainer Unland, Dominic Greenwood, Bob Krause, Steven Willmott, Hiroki Suguri, Steve Quirolgico, Tim Finin, Stefan Poslad, Patricia Charlton, Nina Berry, Bernard Burg, Mike Kerstetter, Mike Stockman for their contributions to the work of TC Ontology

TC Compliance Resolutions

The TC Compliance proposes that FIPA adopt the following resolutions:

· That Michael Berger (Siemens AG) act as Chair of TC Compliance

· That David W. Levine (IBM) act as Co-Chair of TC Compliance

· To request the secretariat to open mailing list compliance@fipa.org (Michael Berger)

· To draft a brainstorming document outlining the dimensions of the following until end 10/2001 (Michael Berger)

1. Definition of terms (conformance points, profiles, levels, minimum set, ...)

2. Define a strategy (bottom up, top down)

3. How to manage the specifications generated by TC Compliance (e.g. concerning the life cycle)?

4. Define a framework to influence the specification writing

· To circulate and discuss the document over the mailing list, have the document ready due 15/01/2002 (TC Compliance)

· To distribute the document to chat@fipa.org and compliance@fipa.org to get input for FIPA24 meeting (Michael Berger)

· To update the work plan due 15/01/2002 (Michael Berger)

· A draft of 1.), 2.), 3.), 4.) is expected by the end of FIPA24; to show examples of conformance to membership (TC Compliance)

· To thank: David Levine, Steve Quirolgico, Heikki Helin, Michael Berger, Tim Finin, Heimo Laamanen, Margaret Lyell, Jonathan Dale, Bernard Burg, Nina Berry, Mike Kerstetter, Stefan Poslad, Steven Willmott, Frank McCabe

TC Gateways resolutions

The TC Gateways proposes that FIPA adopt the following resolutions:

· 2nd FIPA TC Gateways CFT (for Ad-hoc FIPA), f-out-00089, to be approved by FAB

· Change proposals to Nomadic Application Support Specification and send to FAB by end 10/2001

· Work delayed to FIPA24:

· Message Transport Specification change proposals

(bear in mind new process for updating live specs)

· Message Buffering Service to Experimental status?

· Messaging Interoperability Service to Experimental status?

(MIS spec relies on updated MTS)

· Thanks to: David McQueen, Menno Jonkers, Steve Quirolgico, Heikki Helin, David Levine, Craig McChesney, Michael Berger, Tim Finin, Heimo Laamanen

Security WG resolutions

The FIPA Security WG proposes the following resolutions:

That the current work-plan be modified to extend its final milestone, the delivery of a completed work-plan from 2001/10 to 2002/03, shortly after the 24th meeting (to take into account discussions at the 24th meeting).
That a first draft of the Security WG white-paper be circulated to the FIPA membership within one week of this 23rd meeting.
That discussions and work to complete the final draft of the Security WG white-paper take place on the FIPA security reflector (interested mot on that list are requested to join).
That feedback on the RFI responses be given to respondents within one week of this meeting and that parts of the RFI responses be folded in to the white-paper (after permission is given)
That a final draft of the white paper be completed and circulated at least one week before the 24th FIPA meeting and that the FAB be requested to issue it as an output document after the 24th meeting.
That a new work-plan for the security WG be drafted at or before the 24th FIPA meeting.
That the following be thanked for their active input and participation at this Security WG meeting: Patricia Charlton, Stephen Cranefield, Martin Purvis, Bob Krause, Mike Stockman, Mike Kerstetter, Misty Nodine, David Levine, Dominic Greenwood, Margaret Lyell, Yuh-Jong Hu, Tim Finin, Frank McCabe, and Stefan Poslad. (Apologies are offered to anyone whose name was omitted.)

Liaison SIG resolutions

The liaison SIG proposes that FIPA adopt to

1. Continue to collect information on FIPA and universities

Stefan Poslad, ongoing, 2001

2. The SIG to define the outline of the web pages

Bernard Burg, October 31, 2001

3. Define initial lists of people to contact for contributions

Bernard Burg, November 15, 2001

4. Secretariat to contact them and gather their contribution

Jacquie Kelly, November 30, 2001

5. Secretariat to contact membership and gather their contribution to complete the initial lists

Jacquie Kelly, December 15, 2001

6. Finalization of the Web site pages

Jacquie Kelly, January 30, 2002

7. Insertion of Liaison pages into the Web site

Jacquie Kelly, February 15, 2002

FIPA for Business Applications SIG (F4BA) Resolutions

Heimo Laamanen to act as Chair of F4BA
The scope is to

identify application areas that derive specific benefits from agent technology and FIPA.
identify the core benefits that FIPA offers over current industry practice in these areas.
identify the main challenges to specify / implement FIPA specifications in these areas.
initiate development and alignment of FIPA towards selected application areas.

The motivation is to:

1. ensure commercial applicability of FIPA’s results.

2. enable the promotion of FIPA’s results to commercial entities.

3. attract increased commercial participation in FIPA.

The approach is to

1. survey FIPA members as to their targeted application areas.

2. talk with commercial practitioners of application areas (marketing departments).

3. determine how FIPA improves current state of art.

The output is

1. give feedback to Board of Directors as input into determining and evaluating FIPA’s vision and strategy.

2. identify application areas & benefits to Image Committee for promotion of FIPA and its benefits to relevant audience.

3. give feedback to relevant WGs and TCs as to industrial requirements.

Members of FIPA for Business Applications are:

Emorphia, Siemens, Sonera, Tryllian, WebV2, …

Requests that the secretariat establishes the mailing list f4ba@fipa.org to support this SIG.

Product Design and Manufacturing Working Group

The PD&M WG proposes that FIPA adopt the following resolutions

· Product Design & Manufacturing with be discontinued.

· PD&M participants wish to continue those PD&M efforts which are currently in progress: Holonic Enterprise, Planning/Scheduling, and Holonic Control Devices.

· The Holonic Control Devices area will continue as a liason relationship with the HMS (Holonic Manufacturing Systems).

· The PD&M participants are encouraged to continue their fine PD&M efforts by requesting that SIGs be established for each of the remaining areas: Holonic Enterprise (Mihaela Ulieru) and Planning/Scheduling (Mike Stockman). This can be accomplished by submitting scoping statements to the FIPA Board prior to the next FIPA meeting.

· The PD&M WG would like to express their thanks to Nina Berry for founding, organizing, and chairing the PD&M over the past two years.

· The PD&M WG would like to express their thanks to Jim Odell for his guidance and leadership over the past year.

· Based on the resolutions of the FAB the PD&M WG end its activities at the end of the 23^rd meeting

· The Product Design & Manufacturing WG would like to thank all the participants for their participation at this meeting: Mike Kerstetter, Mihaela Ulieru, Mike Stockman, Nina Berry, and James Odell.

Image Committee resolutions

· Monique Calisti (EPFL) to act as Chair of Image

· To finalize FIPA Inform! Vol. 2, Issue 3 with the following contributions:
(due to image@fipa.org by Oct. 26, 2001)

o Meeting results (General Assembly, TCs – Donald Steiner/Frank McCabe)

o News in Brief (Secretariat)

o Sendai Workshop report (Hiroki Suguri)

o Pleasanton Workshop report (Nina Berry)

o AgentCities TaskForce (Jonathan Dale)

o Technology Overview (Semantics – Frank)

o Member Profiles (Sandia – Nina, Siemens – Michael Berger)

· Contributions are requested for Vol. 3, Issue 1
(due to image@fipa.org by Mar. 1, 2002)

o Meeting results (General Assembly, TCs – Frank)

o News in Brief (Secretariat)

o Lausanne Workshop report (Monique Calisti)

o FIPA for Business Applications report (Heimo Laamanen)

o Technology Overview (Ontology – Patricia Charlton)

o Member Profiles (UMBC – Tim, Sonera – Heimo)

· To continue supporting relevant conferences

o AA 2002 (Bologna) – Best SW

o Joint ICMAS/AA

· To encourage publishing papers (including a “Vision paper”) about FIPA to related (technical) journals, conferences. Target journals:

o IEEE Intelligent Systems, IEEE Internet Computing, IEEE Computer, Communications ACM

o Software Focus, Wired, IEEE Spectrum

o Business 2.0, Red Herring

· To continue improving the website

o Add Publications page

o Add Press/News page

o Add Liaison page

o Links to events we are sponsoring

o Add Organization chart to ‘about’ page

o Add Member Logos to ‘about’ page (Secretariat)

· Reinstate press releases (Donald, Heimo, Jonathan, Bernard)

o Actually distribute to press (e.g. BusinessWire, AgentLink)

· In the future to have two short sessions during the FIPA week (Mon aft, Fri morn)

· Propose the creation of a “Business Applications” SIG to identify application areas that derive specific benefits from agent technology and FIPA, as well as the values that FIPA offers over current industry practice in these areas.

o The output from the “FIPA for Business Applications” SIG can be used by the Image Committee to actively promote FIPA within these application areas.

Thanks to: Michael Berger, Bernard Burg, Jonathan Dale, Heikki Helin, Heimo Laamanen, Steve Quirolgico, Donald Steiner, Hiroki Suguri

9. FIPA thanks the following individuals for participating in and making valuable contributions to the FIPA Workshop:

Name	Affiliation
Dianne C. Barton	Sandia National Labs
Menno Jonkers	Tryllian
John Howard	Sandia National Labs
Ken Whitebread	Advanced Technology Laboratories
Ming Chien Shan	HP

10. FIPA thanks Sandia National Laboratories for offering FIPA excellent meeting facilities and friendly support in Pleasanton, CA and for hosting its 23^rd meeting, in particular: Nina Berry, Donna Blevins and Ken Washington and the FIPA secretariat Jacquie Kelly

11. FIPA invites its membership and contributors to the FIPA process to its 24th meeting, February 11^th-15^th, 2002 in Lausanne, Switzerland, to be hosted by EPFL.