A hierarchical mobile agent framework and its application to multimedia contents

A hierarchical mobile agent is a model that extends the standard mobile agent. In this model it is possible for an agent to migrate inside another agent and parent–child relations can be constructed (the host agent being the parent). By means of such agent synthesis, it is possible to integrate different functionality and have agents interact with one another with no need for remote communications. Even when an agent migrates, it is possible to maintain the relations between parent and child stably over a long period of time. In this paper we focus on the task of controlling these parent–child relations and propose the MAFEH framework designed to simplify related tasks. This framework has two special characteristics. One consists of the parent–child agreement specification that expresses the agreement regarding the behavior between parent and child. The other consists of the interaction behavior description specification that facilitates the description of the processes by which individual interactive partners can be searched for, enter into combinations, and disassociate themselves from each other. In this paper we also present an application of the MAFEH framework demonstrating how an agent that encapsulates mobile contents can combine with other agents that provide different contents and services. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 38(1): 1–17, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/scj.20624