This contribution proposes a new method of communicating agents and FIPA platforms
using a more natural way to develop conversations: Jabber, an Instant Messaging
(IM) protocol designed to sustain lengthy bidirectional communications among
entities on the Internet.
Jabber is an open protocol that is based on standard XML (eXtensible Markup
Language) for the exchange of messages and presence information between two
Internet points. This protocol was proposed by the Jabber Software Foundation1.
The main use of Jabber technology is an extensible IM network that has similar
features to other IM services like AIM, ICQ, MSN Messenger and Yahoo. Therefore,
Jabber is an open, secure, and free alternative to consumer IM services. Under
the hood, Jabber is a of streaming XML protocols and technologies that enable
any two entities on the Internet to exchange messages, presence, and other structured
information in close to real-time. Jabber enables Peer-To-Peer computing. Although
it makes use of a server between clients, its operation is similar to a peer-to-peer
model that puts two or more entities in touch with each other.
Nowadays, there are Instant Messaging Networks that are used by millions of
people to communicate. These IM Networks can also be used by agents to communicate
with each other. Using the same IM Networks that humans do provides several
advantages, such as a more comfortable and easy interaction between humans and
agents. These networks have been extensively tested and can support a very high
workload. Other important matters are the new mechanisms provided for this protocol
(Presence Notification, Multi-User Conference) that can improve the communicative
acts. These characteristics, which are not directly mentioned in the FIPA standard,
perform new communication capabilities between agents which make them more versatile.
The XMPP-MTP add-on can be downloaded from the 3rd
party sw area of the JADE Web site.
The default Makefile rules don't take the XMPP MTP into account. For handling the compilation process of the XMPP MTP you have to use the 'build.xml' ant-file located in the xmpp directory. The following rules are available:
To use the XMPP MTP we can choose to specify it from the command line:
java jade.Boot -mtp jade.mtp.xmpp.MessageTransportProtocolor install it from the RMA's graphical environment. Obviously, the xmpp.jar containing the MTP class files must be in the classpath.
Running the MTP from the command line requires 3 parameters:
-jade_mtp_xmpp_server <jabber server> -jade_mtp_xmpp_username <username> -jade_mtp_xmpp_password <password> java jade.Boot -mtp
jade.mtp.xmpp.MessageTransportProtocol -jade_mtp_xmpp_server jabber.org -jade_mtp_xmpp_username jadeuser -jade_mtp_xmpp_password secret
xmpp://' addresses.