Meta-Agent Based Adaptation in Multi-Agent Systems for SOA System Evaluation

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for addressing the complexity inherent in evaluating Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) systems by using meta-agent based adaptation in multi-agent systems. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a multi-agent based automated evaluation capability for distributed, SOA systems that can dynamically adapt to the non-deterministic nature of such systems to enable a continuous monitoring capability for detecting and circumventing operational errors as they arise.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a controller device configured to send a specification containing instructions for creating a plurality of meta-agents; and   a server device in communication with the controller device, configured to:
 receive the specification from the controller, and 
 create the plurality of meta-agents at respective nodes in a plurality of nodes, wherein each meta-agent in the plurality of meta-agents is configured to create an additional agent in response to detecting a trigger event. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server device and the controller device are implemented within a host device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the specification identifies the respective nodes in the plurality of nodes for creating the meta-agents. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of meta-agents are configured to monitor respective target applications at the respective nodes in the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the specification identifies the respective target applications for the meta-agents to monitor. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of meta-agents are configured to monitor respective target devices at the respective nodes in the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the respective target devices are configured to communicate with each other in an Internet of Things (IoT) system. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the specification identifies the respective target devices for the meta-agents to monitor. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each meta-agent in the plurality of meta-agents is configured to modify an existing agent in response to detecting the trigger event. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each meta-agent in the plurality of meta-agents is configured to delete an existing agent in response to detecting the trigger event. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the specification identifies a plurality of trigger events including the trigger event. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of meta-agents are configured to send information to the controller device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server device is configured to populate the meta-agents with a plurality of behaviors based on information in the specification. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server device is configured to populate the meta-agents with a plurality of behaviors based on information stored at the server device. 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 a controller device configured to send a specification containing instructions for creating a plurality of meta-agents, wherein the specification identifies:
 a plurality of target applications executing at a plurality of nodes on a plurality of target devices, and 
 a plurality of behaviors for the plurality of meta-agents, wherein the behaviors include behaviors for monitoring the plurality of target applications for one or more trigger events and behaviors for creating one or more additional agents in response to detecting a specific trigger event in the plurality of trigger events; and 
   a server device in communication with the controller device, configured to:
 receive the specification from the controller, 
 create the plurality of meta-agents at the nodes, 
 populate the plurality of meta-agents with behaviors based on information stored at the server device, 
 receive result information from a meta-agent in the plurality of meta-agents, and 
 send the result information to the controller device. 
   
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a meta-agent device, a specification containing instructions for creating a plurality of meta-agents; and   creating, at the meta-agent device, the plurality of meta-agents at respective nodes in a plurality of nodes, wherein each meta-agent in the plurality of meta-agents creates an additional agent in response to detecting a trigger event.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the specification identifies the respective nodes in the plurality of nodes for creating the meta-agents. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of meta-agents monitor respective target applications at the respective nodes in the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the specification identifies the respective target applications for the meta-agents to monitor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 populating the meta-agents with a plurality of behaviors based on information in the specification.