FOUNDATION FOR INTELLIGENT PHYSICAL AGENTS

 

 

FIPA Nomadic Application Support
Ontology Specification

 

Document title

FIPA Nomadic Application Support Ontology Specification

Document number

OC00065B

Document source

FIPA Nomadic Application Support

Document status

Obsolete

Date of this status

2000/08/04

Supersedes

None

Contact

fab@fipa.org

Change history

2000/08/04

Document made obsolete by FIPA00014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

İ 2000 Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents - http://www.fipa.org/

Geneva, Switzerland

Notice

Use of the technologies described in this specification may infringe patents, copyrights or other intellectual property rights of FIPA Members and non-members. Nothing in this specification should be construed as granting permission to use any of the technologies described. Anyone planning to make use of technology covered by the intellectual property rights of others should first obtain permission from the holder(s) of the rights. FIPA strongly encourages anyone implementing  any part of this specification to determine first whether part(s) sought to be implemented are covered by the intellectual property of others, and, if so, to obtain appropriate licenses or other permission from the holder(s) of such intellectual property prior to implementation. This specification is subject to change without notice. Neither FIPA nor any of its Members accept any responsibility whatsoever for damages or liability, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of this specification.

Foreword

The Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents (FIPA) is an international organization that is dedicated to promoting the industry of intelligent agents by openly developing specifications supporting interoperability among agents and agent-based applications. This occurs through open collaboration among its member organizations, which are companies and universities that are active in the field of agents. FIPA makes the results of its activities available to all interested parties and intends to contribute its results to the appropriate formal standards bodies.

The members of FIPA are individually and collectively committed to open competition in the development of agent-based applications, services and equipment. Membership in FIPA is open to any corporation and individual firm, partnership, governmental body or international organization without restriction. In particular, members are not bound to implement or use specific agent-based standards, recommendations and FIPA specifications by virtue of their participation in FIPA.

The FIPA specifications are developed through direct involvement of the FIPA membership. The status of a specification can be either Preliminary, Experimental, Standard, Deprecated or Obsolete. More detail about the process of specification may be found in the FIPA Procedures for Technical Work. A complete overview of the FIPA specifications and their current status may be found in the FIPA List of Specifications. A list of terms and abbreviations used in the FIPA specifications may be found in the FIPA Glossary.

FIPA is a non-profit association registered in Geneva, Switzerland. As of January 2000, the 56 members of FIPA represented 17 countries worldwide. Further information about FIPA as an organization, membership information, FIPA specifications and upcoming meetings may be found at http://www.fipa.org/.

Contents

1     Scope. 1

2     Nomadic Application Support Ontology. 2

2.1      Object Descriptions. 2

2.1.1      Quality of Service Description. 2

2.1.2      Rate Value. 3

2.1.3      Time Value. 4

2.1.4      Probability Value. 4

2.1.5      Change Constraint 4

2.1.6      Time Constraint 5

2.1.7      Communication Channel Description. 5

2.1.8      Transport Protocol Description. 5

2.1.9      Transport Protocol Selection. 6

2.2      Exceptions. 6

2.2.1      Not Understood Exception Propositions. 6

2.2.2      Refusal Exception Propositions. 6

2.2.3      Failure Exception Propositions. 7

3     Message Representation Ontology. 8

3.1      Object Descriptions. 8

3.1.1      Message Representation Description. 8

3.1.2      Message Representation Selection. 8

4     References. 9


1         Scope

This document is part of the FIPA specifications and deals with agent middleware to support applications in nomadic environment. This specification also forms part of the FIPA Nomadic Application Support Specification [FIPA00066] and contains specifications for:

 

·         Ontological descriptions.


2         Nomadic Application Support Ontology

2.1        Object Descriptions

This section describes a set of frames, that represent the classes of objects in the domain of discourse within the framework of the FIPA-Nomadic-Application and FIPA-MTS-QoS ontologies.

 

The following terms are used to describe the objects of the domain:

 

·         Frame. This is the mandatory name of this entity, that must be used to represent each instance of this class.

 

·         Ontology. This is the name of the ontology, whose domain of discourse includes the parameters described in the table.

 

·         Parameter. This is the mandatory name of a parameter of this frame.

 

·         Description. This is a natural language description of the semantics of each parameter.

 

·         Presence. This indicates whether each parameter is mandatory or optional.

 

·         Type. This is the type of the values of the parameter: Integer, Word, String, URL, Term, Set or Sequence.

 

·         Reserved Values. This is a list of FIPA-defined constants that can assume values for this parameter.

 

2.1.1          Quality of Service Description

This type of object represents the quality of service of the transport protocol.

 

Frame

Ontologies

qos

FIPA-Nomadic-Application

FIPA-MTS-QoS

 

Parameter

Description

Presence

Type

Reserved Values

line-rate

The bandwidth in one direction over the link.

Optional[1]

 

rate-value

 

throughput

The number of user data bits successfully transferred in one direction across the link[2]. Successful transfer means that no user data bits are lost, added or inverted in transfer.

Optional

rate-value

 

throughput-std-dev

The current standard deviation of the throughput within a time unit.

Optional

rate-value

 

rtt

The round trip time which is the time required for a data segment to be transmitted to a peer entity and a corresponding acknowledgement sent back to the originating entity.

Optional

time-value

 

rtt-std-dev

The standard deviation of the round-trip time within a time unit.

Optional

time-value

 

delay

The (nominal) time required for a data segment to be transmitted to a peer entity.

Optional

time-value

 

delay-std-dev

The standard deviation of the delay time within a time unit.

Optional

time-value

 

mean-up-time

The expected uptime of an established link.

Optional

time-value

 

omission-rate

The probability that a data segment is not transmitted correctly over a link.

Optional

probability-value

 

ber

The ratio of the number of bit errors to the total number of bits transmitted in a given time interval[3].

Optional

probability-value

 

frame-error-rate

The probability that a data segment is not transmitted correctly over a link.

Optional

probability-value

 

conn-setup-delay

The (sampled) delay to establish a connection between communicating entities.

Optional

time-value

 

conn-setup-failure-prob

The ratio of total call attempts that result in call setup failure to the total call attempts in a population of interest.

Optional

probability-value

 

status

The connectivity status of the link.

Optional

Word

Connected

Disconnected

Connecting

 

2.1.2          Rate Value

This type of object represents a data transfer value.

 

Frame

Ontologies

rate-value

FIPA-Nomadic-Application

FIPA-MTS-QoS

 

Parameter

Description

Presence

Type

Reserved Values

direction

The direction in which this value is measured.

Mandatory

 

Word

Inbound

Outbound

unit

The unit in which the  value is represented.

Mandatory

Word

GBits/s

MBits/s

KBits/s

Bits/s

value

The rate value.

Mandatory

Number

 


2.1.3          Time Value

This type of object represents a time value.

 

Frame

Ontologies

time-value

FIPA-Nomadic-Application

FIPA-MTS-QoS

 

Parameter

Description

Presence

Type

Reserved Values

direction

The direction in which this value is measured.

Optional[4]

 

Word

Inbound

Outbound

unit

The unit in which the  value is represented.

Mandatory

Word

h

m

s

ms

value

The time value.

Mandatory

Number

 

 

2.1.4          Probability Value

This type of object represents a probability value.

 

Frame

Ontologies

probability-value

FIPA-Nomadic-Application

FIPA-MTS-QoS

 

Parameter

Description

Presence

Type

Reserved Values

direction

The direction in which this value is measured.

Optional

 

Word

Inbound

Outbound

value

The probability value which obeys the following axiom:

0 • value • 1

Mandatory

Number

 

 

2.1.5          Change Constraint

This type of object represents constraints that limit quality of service notifications (see [FIPA00062]).

 

Frame

Ontologies

change-constraint

FIPA-Nomadic-Application

FIPA-MTS-QoS

 

Parameter

Description

Presence

Type

Reserved Values

value

The description of the constraints.

Mandatory

Expression

 

 


2.1.6          Time Constraint

This type of object represents constraints that limit quality of service notifications.

 

Frame

Ontologies

time-constraint

FIPA-Nomadic-Application

FIPA-MTS-QoS

 

Parameter

Description

Presence

Type

Reserved Values

type

The type of the constraint. If the type Every is used, then the expression becomes true after value and thereafter at intervals of value. If the type After is used, then the expression becomes true only after value.

Mandatory

Word

Every

After

value

The time value.

Mandatory

time-value

 

 

2.1.7          Communication Channel Description

This type of object represents a communication channel.

 

Frame

Ontologies

comm-channel

FIPA-Nomadic-Application

FIPA-Communication-Management

 

Parameter

Description

Presence

Type

Reserved Values

name

The logical name of the communication channel.

Optional[5]

Word

 

target-addr

The target transport address of the communication channel. This may also be the address of a gateway ACC.

Optional

URL

 

options

A list of optional parameters for the communication channel.

Optional

Set of property (see [FIPA00023])

 

 

2.1.8          Transport Protocol Description

This type of object represents a transport protocol.

 

Frame

Ontologies

transport-protocol

FIPA-Nomadic-Application

FIPA-Communication-Management

 

Parameter

Description

Presence

Type

Reserved Values

name

The logical name of the transport protocol.

Mandatory

Word

See [FIPA00074]

gw-addr

The transport address of the gateway ACC.

Optional

URL

 

dest-addr

The  transport address of the ultimate destination. If this address is present, but gw-addr is not, then the Control Agent may select the most appropriate gateway transport address to use.

Optional

URL

 

options

A list of optional parameters for the transport protocol.

Optional

Set of property

 

2.1.9          Transport Protocol Selection

This type of object represents a selection of transport protocol.

 

Frame

Ontologies

transports

FIPA-Nomadic-Application

FIPA-Communication-Management

 

Parameter

Description

Presence

Type

Reserved Values

send

A list of transport protocols supported for sending messages.

Mandatory

Sequence of

transport-protocol

 

recv

A list of transport protocols supported for receiving messages.

Mandatory

Sequence of transport-protocol

 

 

2.2        Exceptions

The exceptions for the FIPA-Nomadic-Application ontology follow the same form and rules as specified in [FIPA00023].

 

2.2.1          Not Understood Exception Propositions

Communicative Act

Ontology

not-understood

FIPA-Nomadic-Application

 

Predicate Symbol

Arguments

Description

unsupported-act

String

The receiving agent does not support the specific communicative act; the string identifies the unsupported communicative act.

unexpected-act

String

The receiving agent supports the specified communicative act, but it is out of context; the string identifies the unexpected communicative act.

unsupported-value

String

The receiving agent does not support the value of a message parameter; the string identifies the message parameter name.

unrecognised-value

String

The receiving agent cannot recognise the value of a message parameter; the string identifies the message parameter name.

 

2.2.2          Refusal Exception Propositions

Communicative Act

Ontology

refuse

FIPA-Nomadic-Application

 

Predicate symbol

Arguments

Description

unauthorised

 

The sending agent is not authorised to perform the function.

unsupported-function

String

The receiving agent does not support the function; the string identifies the unsupported function name.

missing-argument

String

A mandatory function argument is missing; the string identifies the missing function argument name.

unexpected-argument

String

A mandatory function argument is present which is not required; the string identifies the unrequired function argument.

unexpected-argument-count

 

The number of function arguments is incorrect.

missing-parameter

String String

A mandatory parameter is missing; the first string represents the object name and the second string identifies the missing parameter name.

unexpected-parameter

String String

The receiving agent does not support the parameter; the first string represents the function name and the second string identifies the unsupported parameter name.

unrecognised-parameter-value

String String

The receiving agent cannot recognise the value of a parameter; the first string represents the object name and the second string identifies the parameter name of the unrecognised parameter value.

already-open

String

The specified communication channel is already open; the string identifies the communication channel.

not-open

String

The specified communication channel is not open; the string identifies the communication channel.

already-activated

String

The specified transport protocol is already activated; the string identifies the transport protocol.

not-active

String

The specified transport protocol is not active; the string identifies the transport protocol.

unrecognised-comm-channel

String

The specified communication channel is not recognised; the string identifies the communication channel.

unsupported-protocol

String

The specified transport protocol is not supported; the string identifies the transport protocol.

 

2.2.3          Failure Exception Propositions

Communicative Act

Ontology

failure

FIPA-Agent-Management

 

Predicate symbol

Arguments

Description

internal-error

String

An internal error occurred; the string identifies the internal error.

open-failed

String

The opening of a communication channel failed; the string identifies the failure reason.

transient-failed

String

The opening/closing of a communication channel or the activation/deactivation of a transport protocol failed; the string identifies the failure reason.

close-failed

String

The closing of a communication channel failed; the string identifies the failure reason.

activation-failed

String

The activation of a transport protocol failed; the string identifies the failure reason.

deactivation-failed

String

The deactivation of a transport protocol failed; the string identifies the failure reason.

 


3         Message Representation Ontology

3.1        Object Descriptions

This section describes a set of frames, that represent the classes of objects in the domain of discourse within the framework of the FIPA-Message-Representation ontology.

 

3.1.1          Message Representation Description

This type of object represents an ACL message representation.

 

Frame

Ontologies

msg-representation

FIPA-Message-Representation

 

Parameter

Description

Presence

Type

Reserved Values

name

The name of the message representation.

Mandatory

Word

See [FIPA00068]

options

A list of parameters for the message representation.

Optional

Set of property

 

 

3.1.2          Message Representation Selection

This type of object represents a selection of message representations.

 

Frame

Ontologies

msg-rep-selection

FIPA-Message-Representation

 

Parameter

Description

Presence

Type

Reserved Values

send

A list of message representations supported for sending messages.

Mandatory

Sequence of msg-representation

 

recv

A list of message representations supported for receiving messages.

Mandatory

Sequence of msg-representation

 

 

 


4         References

[FIPA00023]      FIPA Agent Management Specification. Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents, 2000. http://www.fipa.org/specs/fipa00023/

[FIPA00062]      FIPA Nomadic Application Support Monitor Agent Specification. Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents, 2000. http://www.fipa.org/specs/fipa00062/

[FIPA00066]      FIPA Nomadic Application Support Specification. Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents, 2000. http://www.fipa.org/specs/fipa00066/

[FIPA00068]      FIPA ACL Message Representation Library Specification. Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents, 2000. http://www.fipa.org/specs/fipa00068/

[FIPA00074]      FIPA Agent Message Transport Protocol Library Specification. Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents, 2000. http://www.fipa.org/specs/fipa00074/

[ITUE800]         Recommendation E.800 - Telephone Network and ISDN, Quality of Service, Network Management and Traffic Engineering, Terms and Definitions Related to Quality of Service and Network Performance Including Dependability. International Telecommunication Union, International Telecommunication Union, 1995.

[ITUX135]         Recommendation X.135 - Speed of Service (delay and throughput), Performance Values for Public Data Networks when Providing Packet-Switched Services. International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee, 1993.



[1] While all of the parameters for this object are optional, a valid qos object will contain at least one parameter.

[2] See [ITUX135].

[3] See [ITUE00].

[4] This parameter is mandatory for those quality of service values that have a different value depending upon the direction.

[5] Either the :name parameter or the :target-addr parameter must be present in this object.