ÔÖÏÒÓÑÐÎÌÊËÍÕ×ØÙMediation in the Knowledgeable CommunityÛÝ ÉÞ3 Úß àáy âÝ ÜÞzSummary.

TheKnowledgeable Community is a framework of knowledge

sharing and reuse based on a multi-agent architecture. In this paper, we
focus on the organizational structure that facilitates mediation between
those agents requesting for a service and those providing the service.
We describe several techniques of mediation.

In particular, we discuss

mediation with ontology that is performed by mediator and ontology
server.

Ontology server manages ontology and relations between partof ontology and agents, and can suggest feasible agents to process givenmessages. We illustrate mediating processes with a testbed system fortravel planning.

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1Knowledgeable Community

î42¡\l)\)\Kenji Iino, î42¡\l)\)\z
Toyoaki Nishida, î42¡\l)\)\

3 Hideaki Takeda,y2MACC '93

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çbEeto\E[si$?&(G çbb?§«BQ +ï25UCF Q ô5+%U0@ (1 ¢) FP:WZ %UGN÷6+ýC3>&U0@ (2 ¢) 1SC~ E¥]/ ô5YÿR3>&U0@ (3 ¢) @&(R'!00?<5UKF WTEpYz<0@Fé?FB& @&'0@?%U!~ WCAZB_$i^q+&> AER'B
Õÿ+?,U*F63P6;>&U¬FB&!
²ÐE¯¶·´²¬E implementation ?F communication ô5²E9OEýCB{qe@3> nk$iL.ÇE²?%U KQML(Knowledge Query and2.1

Mediation in the Knowledgeable Community3Y¯«3>&U! KQML ?Fnk$iL.Ç
Y²5U9OC 1 & 1 nk$iL.Ye@3> nk$iE6Y5 keyword TQT±BAEv$l nk$i%*SBUy`$~nqYiE3>&U!nk$iï©E²@3>F KIF(Knowledge Interchange Format) [GF90]Y¯«3>&U! KIF FV»9ÿYe@5U6²³»?%T 6E½_C¯«1VUPE?%U!M9 Xó%7E²@3>F ontology @3>²3 1%HCF Ontolingua [Gru92]YÎ«3>&U! Ontoligua F ontology Y×-9OE³»? KIF E
²Y[=3> class Qc3YEm?,UR'C3>&U!
Manupulation Language) [FWW+ 92]®¤°­¹³J9F¨MN_$i^q2E9CF )¹&C"NEÿ&B ÉY5UPE*S /úHBnk$iEQTTY5UB ÉM?ª#?%U!0E9O _$i^qb ÉY²5U+,Fð?%U¬+%U!¯¶·´²¬?FE 2 KY_$i^qb ÉY²5U+,@5U!
 Ontology ¨6P
ontology Y°Ð*<WÐ5U0@CRT Z_$i^qE ontology Y#E_$i^q+6U0@+?,U!_$i^qb? ontology EBT1ÉYNU0@?_$i^qbEc3Y6U0@+?,U!
2.2

 Mediation

CK9R'C µ#E_$i^qF63P#E_$i^qY6;>&U@F´
SB&!8ER'BáÉ?P nk$iL.+'M-Ç-R'C nk$iE:PY
5Uì#B_$i^q mediator Y«5U! Mediator FBA+B&^B
nk$iEE)^Qnk$iEy`$~nqY$_YÇB'0@CRT nk$iL.Yï217U!
0E# ìEE_$i^q2C)&>F cjV@&;9 _$i^q2EÅ+ÇBXVU!
®¤°­¹³D>
6eto\?F8/[$bocm [PFPS+ 92] [CEF+93]CR;>_$i^qY
Åï5U!unq$cEZkdqCF facilitator @¶GVUì#B¥]Yz<_$i^q+6<"Ð5U! facilitator Fòï ké õw ÚBAE_$i^qEÇéEõ@8E)Ø )RI_$i^qbEnk$iJEõ@8E)ØYÇB'!Z
kdqC 5U_$i^qF>Enk$iYM6 facilitator CU! Facilator
F8Enk$iETYR 3> IB_$i^qCJ5U!M9 T+×*
2.3

4

MACC '93
facilitator

forwarding the message

mediator
facilitator

forwarding the message

message withunspecified addressee

forwarding

Agent Achoose apropriate
sub-class agents

mediatorbroadcasting

message withunspecified addressee

replyclass hierarchy

Agent 1

forwarding

Agent A
reply
reply

Agent 1

Agent 2Agent 2Agent 3
forwarding

Agent 1
Agent 4

= 1 Mediation by broadcasting= 2 Mediation by class hierarchy

V>&B&áÉ%U&Fñ3-B&áÉ facilator F8Enk$iY mediator C-5
U! Mediator F faciliator *S-1V9nk$iC&3> 8Enk$iYÕÿ5U
ECIB_$i^qY13 8E_$i^qCnk$iYU!
3Mediation

3.1Mediation¨MN¯¶·´²¬?ÇBXVU Mediation(:P) CFCù/U+,+Æ(SVU!
(1) Broadcasting §©ªG: ÍP/ÓB+,? >%U&FE_$i^qC
-1V9nk$iYÕÿ ô*Y"-+,?%U!_$i^qE'æ ¢YN> ÍPIäB'æY±E_$i^qC'5 (ê 1oÜ)!
(2) Class hierarchy §©ªG: _$i^qCcj - fzcjc3Qcj - ]jljc3+%U@,F àE_$i^qCJ3> E_$i^qJE:PY-5U!nk$iY.@;9àE_$i^qFIB_$i^qY,3> nk$iYU (ê 2oÜ)!
(3) Ontology §©ªG: Ontology Y ontology server C"-0@CRT :P5U!
Ontology server FXóêtE ontological Bc3 Xó@8EXóY²5U_$i^
qbEc3 _$i^qbE ontological Bc3Y(z3>&U! Ontology server F¨(SV9nk$iEï©E9EXóC&5U_$i^qY%VG'5!B&5UPE+B.VG c35UXó%U&F8EXóCc35U_$i^qY'æ5U! Mediator
F0EæY¯«3> TY9E5U (ê 3oÜ)!
(4) Heuristics §©ªG: Class hierarchy C(1VU ontological c3FðÉH?
%Uü SB²EÿRC¬B8åEc3YdNëB&!0ER'B²EÕÿE9OCF heuristics C"39:PYÇB'!7(G concept associators F concept spaceY¯«3> nk$i@XóbEû0Y8r3> c35UXóY<.5! MediatorMediation in the Knowledgeable Community
facilitator

forwarding un-directed
messagefacilitator

5

forwarding un-directed
messageconsulting

consulting
mediator

Ontology A.

chooseappropriate agentssending un-directed
messageforwarding
the message

chooseappropriate agentssending un-directed
message

Agent A
Agent 3Case-based
reasoner

Agent A
forwarding
the message

Agent 2Agent 1

Concept
associatormediator

Agent 3Agent 2Agent 1= 3 Mediation with ontology server= 4 Mediation by heuristics

F0VY¯«3>TY9E5U (ê 4oÜ).
(5) ®¤°­¹³@AK§©ªG: Z_$i^qF~¸Eô5C<&>jY facilitator C&3>ÀU5U!0E_$i^qEô5jF_$i^qEì>EjQ..
ôBnk$iBA+uE1V9y`$~nqC;>j1V>&U! Mediator F0EjYO ¨(SV9nk$iCIB_$i^qY,5U!0E:PF heuristics
CRU:P@NÉX7U0@+?,U!
«RQ¥¦Gà?ù/9+,E': ontology Y¯«39:PC<&>Þ3-KU!
00?F²ÐÅ89E{i^cqE6eto\Y«&>5U!
F6eto\EXóYÝ5U9OE testbed @3>Å89E7â*hjo?%U!0Ehjo?F có-£E{2C¬@BU cóE½Chc øv 7C·§E1M2MBf$xj 3ÇwqBAC<&> $gE¬÷C(U0@Y¢HC3>&U!7(G có+E3ÇE9OE½C4"ø{Yª#Bâ*Y
NÉX7>F5U!
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q2BA*SBU!
3.2Ontology server

KC-Kansai

KC-Kansai

KC-Kansai

3.2.1

Ontology

Fy$4aqi$Ce=-@5U! Ontology CF class bE superclass, subclass c3QZ class Cì5Ujnq"jnqE5E class BA+Em1
V>&U!
Ontology Cc5Uâ*YFü5U_$i^q+ ontology server ?%U! ontology
server F àjER'BcjbEc3QjnqCc5UPEE# cjCc3=.SV
9_$i^qJEldYz<!0E ontology Cc5Uâ*E': Z_$i^qCcXU FZ_$i^qEô5j@3>6eto\CÀU1V9PEY«&U! Ontology server ?F Z_$i^q@8VS+«&>&Uaqi$E Ec8îY
Ontology

6

MACC '93
GEOGRAPHICAL-THING
PLACE
name NAME-STRING
display-point LOCATION-POINT
地理エージェント
featurenearest-station STATIONLOCATION-POINT
x-location
y-location

AREA
border setof BOUNDARY-LINE
PREFECTURE

BOUNDARY-LINEboundary-lines listof LOCATION-POINT
boundary-kindPOINTlocation LOCATION-POINT

CITY

COURSElines listof LOCATION-POINT

RIVER
BUILDING
name NAME-STRING
address ADDRESS-STRING
telephone TELEPHONE-NUMBER

LAKE
PARK公園エージェント

TRAFFIC-LINE
ROAD
BUS-LINE

交通エージェントSTATION
traffic-facility

鉄道エージェントRAILROADNARAKOTU-BUS-LINE
KINTETSU-RAILROAD

BUS-STOP
鉄道エージェントRAILROAD-STATION

JRエージェント

JR-RAILROAD

ACCOMMODATIONKINTETSU-STATION
JRエージェント

JR-STATION

寺エージェント群
TEMPLE

近鉄エージェント
UNIVERSITYVISIT-PLACE
name NAME-STRING
観光エージェント
telephone TELEPHONE-NUMBER
fee AMOUNT-OF-MONEY
admission-time TIME-TO-TIME
required-time TIME-LENGTH
how-to-access ACCESS-INFO

DORMITORY
UNIVERSITY-HALL

公園エージェント

SPOT
LAKE
PARK

TEMPLE
name NAME-STRING
telephone TELEPHONE-NUMBER
fee AMOUNT-OF-MONEY
admission-time TIME-TO-TIME
required-time TIME-LENGTH
how-to-access ACCESS-INFO(東大寺エージェント)(秋篠寺エージェント)...
. . . 寺エージェント群

近鉄エージェント

ホテルエージェント
HOTEL
name NAME-STRING
address ADDRESS-STRING
telephone TELEPHONE-NUMBER
room-number NUMBER
capacity NUMBER
single-room-number NUMBER
twin-room-number NUMBER
single-room-fee AMOUNT-OF-MONEY
twin-room-fee AMOUNT-OF-MONEY
check-in-time TIME-POINT
check-out-time TIME-POINT
perking-fee AMOUNT-OF-MONEY
parking-limit NUMBER
morning-fee AMOUNT-OF-MONEY
dinner-fee AMOUNT-OF-MONEY
how-to-access ACCESS-INFO
special-feature STRING
nearest-station STATION
access-time TIME-LENGTH
access-means TRAFFIC-MEANS= 5 Ontology on travel planE¬C&5Uld (_$i^q"ld) @3>j5U!
Ontology server + mediation C)&>¢95¥]F %UEnk$iEï©
C<&>aqi$â*Y«&> nk$iC)&>£+@B;>&UcjYû33cjCÿ-c3=.SV>&U_$i^qYìE5U0@?%U!
ê 5CC?«&SVU ontology EY}5!ZÊ +<EcjXóY}3 8EbF class-subclass c3? GV>&U!M9 ê{C ontology àEZXóC
c85U_$i^qP}3>&U (ù& )!
3.2.2Mediation ¨;ontology server Y¯«39 mediation F|ER'B£G?ÇBXVU!
1. client F mediation Y®5Unk$iY facilitator CU!
2. facilitator Fnk$iY mediator C&3>J5U!
3. mediator ?F :content Eï©C<&>Õÿô5Yz< ôîE%U_$i^qY6
U9O ontology server C&3>£&ÉX7YÇB'!
4. ontology server ?F|EÔ?Yä5U_$i^qEjqYÑï5U!
(a) KIF ²*S nk$i?£+@B;>&UcjYìE5U!
ontologyKC-Kansai

Mediation in the Knowledgeable Community

7(broker-all :content(recommend-all :content(ask-one :content (and (hotel ?x)(ask-one :content (and (hotel ?x)(name ?x "Nara-hotel")(name ?x "Nara-hotel")(nearest-station ?x ?y)):aspect ?y :language KIF)

(nearest-station ?x ?y)):aspect ?y :language KIF)

:reply-with q1)= 6 message(1):reply-with q1)= 7 message(2)ìE1V9cjCc85U_$i^qJEld+ì3>&VG 8VY*¾)@3>(`5U!
(c) ìE1V9cjEcjC_$i^qJEld+ì3>&VG8VY|E¾)@3>(`5U!
(d) cj+B-BUM? nY!.U!
(e) ìE1V9cjEàcjJÔC nYÇB& _$i^qld+ì3>&
VG8VY|E¾)@3>(`5U!
5. ontology server *SE_$i^qEjqYP@C *¾)*SÔCnk$iYU (%U&F>E¾)C CU)!Ræ+ëSVVG 8VYP@E£(client) CU!
(b)

1%HCAER'C3>3 mediation +ÇBXVU*7Y}5! 0O (1) î4}oEÍfTY6T9& 1
2KQML öI KIF CRU²F7(Gê 6CBU! 00? (hotel ?x) @F$í?x+cj hotel E]jlj?%U0@Y3>&U! (nearest-station ?x ?y)F?y +?x EÍfT?%U0@Y3>&U! :aspect ?y F£+èD9&â*+?y ?%U0@Y3>&U!M9 ask-one F£Y3 broker-all F mediation ®Y5U KQML E performative ?%U!
Client *S facilitator CàjEnk$i+SVU@ facilitator Fê 7ER'B
nk$iC3> mediator CJ5U!83> mediator F1SC ontology server CJ
5U! ontology server Fnk$i*S cj hotel ?%U$í ?x Cc85U
£?%U@û33 ontology Cì5U_$i^qldY@KU!cj hotel CF"hotel-agent" @&'_$i^qld+ì3>&U (ê 5oÜ) E? "hotel-agent" YSæ@3> mediator C'æ5U!
03
O(2) ã)yEÍfTY6T9&21Mediator FêªCM6 temple @&'cjC<¢5U!ËSEE?FyþE_$i^q+"Ð76 ZyC_$i^q+"Ð5U (ê 5oÜ)!0E9O 0VSE_$i

8MACC '93^qC&3>ÔCnk$iYU!P3 "sorry" WE'æ+%VG8VYæ@5U!
3*3 0E7?FZy_$i^qF~åEÍfTâ*Y`ÿ3&B&E? ã)yCc
5U_$i^q?PSæF "sorry" @BU!0EáÉ mediator F ontology EcjV
YT |E_$i^q¾)Y15! \temple" EáÉ 8EàXóE \visit-place"
Ya¿_$i^q+ 1SC8EàXó \place" Y7ÿ_$i^q+`ÿ3>&U (ê5oÜ)!80? M6a¿_$i^qC0Enk$iYU!8V+ö5U@ 7ÿ_$i^qCnk$iYU!7ÿ_$i^qFáÖE7ÿY`ÿ3>&UE? 0E
nk$iCñ3-'æ5U0@+?,U!
ºÂÁ¼9!?Fý§uÂ)i 6|$jE²@3>E6eto\EÅï@8E9?
¬B¥]Y¢95 mediation C<&>K9! Mediation F)i B pþ@hjo?
FéEhô?%U!00?F 8E²+,EH@<?%U ontology Y«&9 mediation
C<&>39!0VF Z_$i^qY8VS+' ontology @3>;ß5U0@? mediation YÇB'PE? hôH"ùéHCBU_$i^qYçÉHC'H@<E§ÁB+,?%U@Æ(SVU!
4 EL :

[CEF+ 93] Mark R. Cutkosky, Robert S. Engelmore, Richard E. Fikes, Michael R. Genesereth,Thoas R. Gruber, William S. Mark, Jay M. Tenenbaum, and Jay C. Weber. PACT: An experiment in integrating concurrent engineering systems. IEEE Computer, Vol. January 1993,
pp. 28{38, 1993.
[FWW+ 92] T. Finin, J. Weber, G. Wiederhold, M. Genesereth, R. Fritzson, D. McKay,J. McGuire, P. Pelavin, S. Shapiro, and C. Beck. Speci cation of the KQML agentcommunication language. Technical Report EIT TR 92-04, Enterprise Integration Technologies, 1992. (Updated July 1993).
[GF90] Michael R. Genesereth and Richard Fikes. Knowledge Interchange Format version 3.0
reference manual. Technical Report Logic-90-4, Computer Science Department, Stanford
University, 1990.
[Gru92] T. R. Gruber. Ontolingua: A mechanism to support portable ontologies. TechnicalReport KSL 91-66, Stanford University, Knowledge Systems Laboratory, 1992.
[Nis93].
.
( ),||, pp. 176{189.
, 1993.
[NT93] Toyoaki Nishida and Hideaki Takeda. Towards the knowledgeable community. In Pro-óM. 6eto\ ¤Ã & drmi çÄ6ôE)&BU?
ý2ý

ceedings of International Conference on Building and Sharing of Very Large-Scale Knowledge, pp. 157{166, Tokyo, 1993. Japan Information Processing Development Center.
[PFPS+ 92] R. S. Patil, R. E. Fikes, P. F. Patel-Schneider, D. McKay, T. Finin, T. R. Gruber,and R. Neches. The DARPA knowledge sharing e ort: Progress report. In Charles Rich,
Bernhard Nebel, and William Swartout, editors, Principles of Knowledge Representation andReasoning: Proceedings of the Third International Conference. Morgan Kaufmann, 1992.
bases '93