The Hybrid Mas Approach for Information System Development in "Cyber Trainer"

Abstract

Information storage, elaboration, and representation is a key point in developing and maintaining performing Information Systems and is becoming more and more challenging over time. In this paper we present the Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) based techniques being used for the refactoring and the expansion of the e-learning application "Cyber Trainer", in particular for specific ad-hoc modules focused on properly filtering and analyzing data. The MAS architecture is based on a set of different "agents", i.e., always running programs that can communicate with each other and work together in order to achieve their tasks. In this project, we used a novel hybrid approach blending MAS programming with Object and Event Programming techniques, taking the best from each one, to manage asynchronous events, communication between different modules, and data flows that need to be treated as big data. The Cyber Trainer "Reporting MAS" design has been focused on scalability, modularity, resistance to change and security. This last point, generally important for every real-world application, in our case is particularly crucial, since Cyber Trainer is distributed over many servers (Reporting MAS Server module agents themself can run on several machines as well).