Grasshopper – A Universal Agent Platform based on OMG MASIF and FIPA Standards 1/17 GRASSHOPPER – A UNIVERSAL AGENT PLATFORM BASED ON OMG MASIF AND FIPA STANDARDS

Although there is still no killer application identified for Mobile and Intelligent Agents, today Agent technology is considered to form an important part of flexible middleware platforms. A main issue in this context is the integration of Mobile and Intelligent Agent Technology, as well as Distributed Object Technology, e.g., the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA). This is particularly reflected by emerging standards for agent systems within the Object Management Group (OMG) and the Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents (FIPA). This paper provides an overview of the Grasshopper Agent platform, which is the first platform conforming to OMG and FIPA agent standards. The initial version of Grasshopper has been developed by GMD FOKUS and IKV++ in 1997/98. The newest version forms today the basis for several internal research projects within the European CLIMATE initiative for implementing agent-based services in the context of Intelligent Networks, mobile communications, telecommunications management, and active networking.