A component-based architecture for problem solving environments

  • Authors:
  • Dan C. Marinescu;Ladislau Bölöni

  • Affiliations:
  • Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN;Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

  • Venue:
  • Computational science, mathematics and software
  • Year:
  • 2002

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Abstract

Many problems in science and engineering involve computer modeling of physical phenomena. Problem Solving Environments (PSEs) are software systems designed to hide the intricacies of computer modeling of physical phenomena and guide a researcher towards a meaningful solution. Some computer modeling applications are naturally distributed, require gathering experimental data, processing raw data, plugging the results of this processing into theoretical models, and repeating the process with various sets of model parameters. Others require legacy applications, distributed over a wide-area network, to collaborate towards a common goal.Monolithic PSEs for distributed applications are complex and brittle. The architecture we propose is based upon a distributed object system and an agent framework we have developed during the past few years. The Bond agent framework allows us to assemble an agent from pre-existing components based upon (1) an agent description language, (2) an agent control language, and (3) an agent factory.