From generic MAS to C/sup 2/D/sup 2/-Agents: a software architecture for CSCW

In order to accommodate the new change brought by the computer support cooperative work (CSCW) application system, a new CSCW system integration platform based on multi-C/sup 2/D/sup 2/-Agent is required. In this paper, a method in the form of MAS-based model for designing CSCW system and C/sup 2/D/sup 2/-Agent concepts are proposed. The architectural property of this type of CSCW system is studied. We show the importance to construct C/sup 2/D/sup 2/ agents and explore an architecture model for the multi-agent based CSCW system. We illustrate the structure of C/sup 2/D/sup 2/ agents, especially autonomous interface agents, and discuss some design principles for such agents. In the CSCW system, autonomous interface agents can expediently support synchronous applications.