AGENT-BASED WORKFLOW COORDINATION FOR SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

To align customer demand with suppliers for reducing work in process and supply costs and increasing re sp onsiveness to customer requirements, a real time collaborative supply chain mana gement system is essential. A solution to the realization of supply chain manage ment capable of timely responding to customer requirements is proposed. Workflow automation is used to manage process interaction across enterprises; Agents can be automatically invoked by supply chain workflow process and are used to pro mote the flexibility and reconfigurability by providing the mechanism in support of distributed compution in an enterprises to meet the requirements of performa nce and business dynamics. An approach that supports agent based workflow proce ss in a supply chain is proposed. And the coordination mechanism between agents is also discussed.

Group Multi-Role Assignment With Conflicting Roles and Agents

Group role assignment(GRA)is originally a complex problem in role-based collaboration(RBC).The solution to GRA provides modelling techniques for more complex problems.GRA with constraints(GRA+)is categorized as a class of complex assignment problems.At present,there are few generally efficient solutions to this category of problems.Each special problem case requires a specific solution.Group multi-role assignment(GMRA)and GRA with conflicting agents on roles(GRACAR)are two problem cases in GRA+.The contributions of this paper include:1)The formalization of a new problem of GRA+,called group multi-role assignment with conflicting roles and agents(GMAC),which is an extension to the combination of GMRA and GRACAR;2)A practical solution based on an optimization platform;3)A sufficient condition,used in planning,for solving GMAC problems;and 4)A clear presentation of the benefits in avoiding conflicts when dealing with GMAC.The proposed methods are verified by experiments,simulations,proofs and analysis.

Using Mobile Agents to Implement Workflow System

Current workflow management systems usually adopt the existing technologies such as TCP/IP-based Web technologies and CORBA as well to fulfill the bottom communications. Very often it has been considered only from a theoretical point of view, mainly for the lack of concrete possibilities to execute with elasticity. MAT (Mobile Agent Technology) represents a very attractive approach to the distributed control of computer networks and a valid alternative to the implementation of strategies for workflow system. This paper mainly focuses on improving the performance of workflow system by using MAT. Firstly, the performances of workflow systems based on both CORBA and mobile agent are summarized and analyzed; Secondly, the performance contrast is presented by introducing the mathematic model of each kind of data interaction process respectively. Last, a mobile agentbased workflow system named MAWMS is presented and described in detail. Key words workflow - Mobile Agent - Contract Net Protocol - CORBA - Web CLC number TP 393 Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (60272024) and National Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province (0411014100)Biography: LI Jie, (1975-), male, lector, Ph. D., research direction: workflow, mobile agent, network management.

An Extended Policy Language for Role Resolution in Project-Oriented Workflow

HP defines an SQL-like language to specify organizational policies (or constraints) in workflow systems. Three types of policies were studied including qualification, requirements and substitution policies which can not handle complex role resolution such as Separation of Roles and Binding of Roles, and several exception situations, such as Role Delegation and Role Unavailable. From the perspective of project-oriented workflow, a project and its sub-projects can be under the charge of teams (or virtual teams). The teams should satisfy the role resolution of the projects managed by the team. To support the above requirements, based on team-enabled organization model, this paper extended HP’s policy language to support the role resolution in project-oriented workflow, and provided its modeling and enforcement mechanism.

THE ROLE OF RARE EARTH CHLORIDES IN THE PACK-TiC COATING AGENT

If 1% rare earth chloride is added to the coating agent containing 5% AlCl_3,the coating efficiency of TiC will be increased greatly.A protective crust consisting of Al_2(SiO_3)_3 and SiO_2 will form on top of the coating agent in the temperature range of 850～1000℃ when SiO_2 powder of a thickness of 5～10 mm is spread on top of it.The protective crust can offer a good air-proof property and increase the denseness of the coating structure.

A role for lipids as agents to alleviate stroke damage： the neuroprotective effect of 2-hydroxy arachidonic acid

Cerebrovascular accident（CVA）or stroke is one of the world＇s leading causes of death and permanent disability.The high social and medical costs associated with this pathology mean there is an urgent need to find effective therapies.Occlusion of the middle cerebral artery（MCAO）,mainly by clots,is the origin of most CVAs in humans.

Analyzing the Roles of Agricultural Extension Agents in Hybrid Rice Technology Decision-Making Process of Farmers

The study determined the roles of agricultural extension in hybrid rice technology decision-making process by extension agents,Nay Pyi Taw,Myanmar.The specific objectives were:to study personal characteristics of agricultural extension agents,experiences and their roles,to identify extension agents’opinion on hybrid rice technology decision-making process,and to determine relationship between the roles of agricultural extension agents and decision-making process of hybrid rice production.One hundred and eight extension agents were collected who were working in Department of Agriculture,Nay Pyi Taw area and surveyed and interviewed by questionnaires.The study revealed that majority of agricultural extension agents(65.7%)were female staffs and most of extension agents(40.7%)were under 30 years as young staffs.Majority of extension agents(81.5%)were educated only Agri-Diploma.More than half(54.6%)had one to five-year experiences in employment and 58.3%had no hybrid rice training experience and source of information regarding the hybrid rice production was received 63.9%from Department of Agriculture(DOA).Study found that there was highly significant relationship between most of the roles of agricultural extension agents and hybrid rice technology decision-making process of stages 4 and 5.And then most of the extension agents’roles singnificantly related with stage 2 except role of conducting introduction of hybrid seeds and distribution through by Seed Co.Ltds which was highly significant.Beside,most of the roles of extension agents significantly related with stage 3.However stages 1 and 6 were no singnificantly related.Finally above all,a well structure seed business,Good Agricultural Practices and farm level mechanization and quality extension service are very important to increase the adoption of hybrid rice in Myanmar.

基于π演算的一种Agent组织模型

Agent组织是多Agent系统研究的重要方面 从直观含义出发 ,将组织看做Agent之间的控制关系 ,以π演算为工具 ,给出了组织角色的定义和根据组织框架构建具体组织的过程 角色和组织框架都用进程表示 ,确定了Agent加入和脱离组织的严格描述 相比Ferber等以π演算和化学自动机定义组织形成过程的形式语义的工作 ,本文显式定义了角色和组织框架 。

基于角色驱动的多Agent主体工作流模型的研究

在分析了传统的几种工作流建模方法的基础上,提出了基于角色驱动的多Agent体工作流模型,把多Agent的协作交互作为模型的主体,模型中引入了多Agent,把任务的执行者看作Agent,该Agent具有角色库,可以拥有一个或者多个角色,并用这些Agent之间的交流协作来描述工作流过程,使得执行者Agent成为模型的主体,改变了传统的模型中人的被动地位,使活动能更加顺利圆满地完成,同时也很好地解决了业务过程中可能存在的活动执行者的多角色和角色变化的问题。

基于Agent技术的工作流模型的研究与设计

为了解决传统工作流管理系统中柔性不佳的问题,本文将Agent技术运用到工作流管理系统中,并在Agent中引入角色,利用Agent的智能、易于扩展等特点,提出了一种新型的工作流模型,并在模型中设计一个人工Agent,用于人机交互。这样,系统更加灵活,适应性更强,大大提高了系统的柔性。最后,本文给出了该模型的一个实际应用。

基于工作流与Agent技术的设施管理系统研究

介绍了工作流技术、工作流管理系统、Agent以及多Agent系统的特点,在此基础上将工作流和Agent技术应用到设施管理系统的构建中,给出了工作流与Agent协同管理的方法和框架,并提出了设施管理系统的三层分布式体系结构,即:用户界面层;应用逻辑层及数据服务层.可为后续设施管理系统的开发提供技术上的参考和借鉴.

基于AUML的面向Agent的ERP系统设计

总结了ERP软件设计中存在的一些问题,将AUML技术引入了面向Agent软件工程分析设计过程中,Agent相比面向对象具备适应环境能力强、移动性、智能性等特点,对面向Agent技术和传统的软件工程技术进行了比较,提出了面向Agent技术开发ERP软件的思路,结合AUML详细论述了开发ERP软件的过程,给出了一个销售管理系统分析设计的实例,并用In-genias Development Kit工具包对整个分析设计过程进行了设计。

基于移动Agent工作流系统的工作模式

随着企业的发展,工作流管理系统必须提供更高的可靠性、交互性和灵活性。将移动代理技术与工作流技术融合,可实现这些目标。然而,它们在集中式工作流系统中容易得到解决,而在基于移动Agent工作流系统中比较难于解决。该文就提出了一个类似的问题,即基于移动Agent的工作流任务行程规划问题,并且提供了一个解决办法。

基于多Agent的智能电子商务系统研究

高效率和低成本是电子商务追求的目标,然而,基于W eb/B row ser模式的电子商务却使电子商务陷入效率的困境。智能化分布式计算模型和工作流技术的出现给电子商务带来了新的发展契机,智能电子商务成为人们研究的热点。介绍了应用于智能电子商务的移动A gen t技术和工作流技术,提出了A gen t的HA S理论模型,给出了智能电子商务的商务流程概念模型,设计了它的工作模型和系统结构,为实现智能电子商务作了一些理论探讨。

基于异构消息匹配QoS全局最优E-workflow组合研究

提出了一种分布消息匹配的工作流组合方法。移动agent代理E-service,构成一个自治的感知单元,移动agent通过语义的协商确认匹配关系,E-workflow组合可以通过移动agent的演化完成。通过接口消息对应匹配的方法,完成了服务之间关系的确定,建立工作流组合的全局结构,将E-workflow的QoS全局优化转化为一个多目标的优化问题,通过基于快速排序算法改进的NSGA-Ⅱ算法进行求解。通过仿真表明方法实现了分布自组织和全局适应性的功能。

基于角色交换的多Agent协商问题的研究

利用角色与Agent之间的动态性刻画多Agent系统的结构和行为模型的特点,针对在协商过程中相互协作的Agent如何结成具有相对稳定的合作领域的问题,对角色进行形式化描述,提出了基于角色交换的多Agent协商角色交换算法。该算法能在不完全信息的环境下,提高多个Agent之间的协商效率;并以模拟足球赛为平台进行实验,结果证明该算法是可行有效的。

角色在多Agent系统中的应用

角色是连接多Agent系统微观模型与宏观模型的桥梁,角色与Agent之间的动态性有利于刻画多Agent系统的结构和行为模型.本文研究角色和Agent之间的关系和机制,讨论基于角色的多Agent系统,并介绍了角色在RoboCup仿真比赛中的应用实例.

基于任务的多Agent系统Rough集模型

本文在Rough集框架内建立基于任务的多Agent系统(MAS)形式模型,讨论了任务求解的条件和任务的协同度。在求解基于任务极小MAS的基础上,对Agent进行了基本分类,为A-gent的角色划定和责任分配提供依据,同时研究了成员Agent的重要度。

利用Agent技术实现教学软件的智慧型交互特性

本文讨论了如何利用人工智慧领域的研究成果Agent技术改善教学软件的交互特性。文中介绍了Agent技术的特点及Mi-crosoftAgent的功能,并重点以MicrosoftAgent为例,讨论了利用Agent技术在多媒体集成工具Authorware中进行教学软件设计的技术应用。

面向角色的多agent工作流模型研究

目前的工作流建模工具大多是面向活动、面向产品、面向目标或面向决策的,没有强调工作流是多个角色主体协作的过程,工作流的绩效最终依赖员工及其角色的作用.从角色及其合作的角度,分析了面向角色的工作流模型及其表示方法,为工作流的管理提供新的思路.在此基础上,研究了角色、agent和工作流的关系,给出了一种面向角色的工作流多agent管理系统模型和原型.