Extending the MASIF location service in the MAP agent system

A previous development in the field of telecommunication networks has enabled the evolution of distributed systems, and has favoured the development of a new generation of applications based on the use of mobile agents. In fact, during the last few years, several agent platforms have been created; however the architectures and implementation of such platforms are very different, and this makes their interaction difficult. In order to favour the interaction among differently implemented platforms, the Object Management Group (OMG) has proposed the Mobile Agent System Interoperability Facility (MASIF) standard, which includes some definitions and interfaces which all platforms have to comply with. We present the MAP platform for developing and managing mobile agents; it complies with MASIF in order to communicate and interact with similar platforms provided that they comply with the mentioned standard. Besides, we present a mechanism, which has been implemented in the MAP, which extends MASIF's functionalities so to enable the interaction among agents and agent systems operating in different regions.