Conclusion

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Conclusion

This paper has described KQML -- a language and associated protocol by which intelligent software agents can communicate to share information and knowledge. We believe that KQML, or something very much like it, will be important in building the distributed agent-oriented information systems of the future.

The design of KQML has continued to evolve as the ideas are explored and feedback is received from the prototypes and the attempts to use them in real testbed situations. Furthermore, new standards for sharing persistent object-oriented structures are being developed and promulgated, such as OMG's CORBA specification and Microsoft's OLE 2.0. Should any of these become widely used, it will be worthwhile to evolve KQML so that its key ideas the collection of reserved performatives, the support for a variety of information exchange protocols, the need for an information based directory service can enhance these new information exchange languages.

Additional information on KQML, including papers, language specifications, access to APIs, information on email discussion lists, etc, can be obtained via the world wide web as http://www.cs.umbc.edu/kqml/ and via ftp from ftp... in pub/kqml/.

finin@cmsc