Societies of Computation (SoC). A Framework for Open Distributed systems-phase II:1995-98

The research program Societies of Computation (SoC) at the IDE department of HK/R has been in operation since more than one year [ 11, [2]. The SoC framework takes a Multi Agent System (MAS) approach when addressing issues in open distributed computing. The results so far are very promising and will shortly be outlined below. Assessment of those results combined by results and ideas from the international research society as well as needs from enterprises are background material for our next phase. The goals and expected results from this phase is briefly discussed in following sections. The research group, performing activities in the SoC framework, has been formed during the first phase of the project, and has at present the following active members: Rune Gustavsson, professor and principal investigator, Hans Akkermans, professor at Twente University and guest researcher, Eric Astor, Ph.D., University of Lund, Olle Lindeberg, Ph.L., HK/R, Staffan Hagg, Ph.L., HK/R, Fredrik Ygge, MSc., HK/R and Sydkraft, Barcin Kozbe, M.Sc., Ericsson Infocom Christer Lundberg, M.Sc, University College of Kalmar, Bengt Carlsson, M.Sc., University of Lund Occasionally also other researchers at IDE are involved in shorter R&D activities conducted under the SoC umbrella. Applications developed in SoC have also been sources for several projects performed by undergra-duate students, during the fiscal year of 1994-95 about 12 person years, from several undergraduate programs. Those activities of the SoC program have mainly been performed within the center SIKT. SIKT, Society Information and Knowledge Technologies, is a recently formed center at HK/R. The key industrial partner up to this point has been Sydkraft AB. The project Intelligent Distribution Automation (IDA) at Sydkraft has been a valuable partner for developing applications and assessing results. Ronneby Energi AB (REAB) and Affarsverken i Karlskrona AB are also actively supporting our R&D. The project Communication and Distributed Computing for Efficient Management of Energy Systems, supported by governmental agencies, has been instrumental for introducing and assessing MAS technologies in the Swedish research society as well as to Swedish industry