Bee-gent: Bonding and Encapsulation Enhancement agent framework for development of distributed systems

With the recent fast expansion of networks, interconnection of heterogeneous systems via networks is drawing increasing attention. In this context, the authors propose the Bee-gent (Bonding and Encapsulation Enhancement aGENT) agent framework, whose objective is to allow flexible interconnection between legacy systems, databases, and other existing systems by providing coordination and communication functions for distributed system components. With the proposed network, interaction protocols describing interactions between system components are divided between global processing related to problem solving, and component-specific local processing. Coordination between system components in the global processing is ensured through consistent control by mobile mediation agents. This facilitates design and maintenance if the system is modified or extended. In the paper the practical implementation of the proposed system is discussed and specific practical examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the system.