SWIM: Agent Capability Template

• used in conjunction with the information flow model to create a process model
• used to form requirement documents for the creation of automatied agents
• used to define interface requirements

Agent Name

For each Activity:

• Description

  We are trying to get an idea of how an agent can be tasked. You may find it useful to use our verb classification hierarchy. I've included a summary below.

• Resource(s)

  These are information "product" that are required for the activity to be successfully completed but which are not necessarily changed by the activity. What does the agent need to complete this activity.

• Constraint(s)

  There may be a host of constraint on the activity. Not least temporal constraints, for example:

  • quantitative:
    • it must be completed in 5 to 6 hours
    • it must start no later than D+5
    • it must complete with 18 hours of start of conflict
  • qualitative:
    • it can start as soon as activity 1.1.1. is complete
    • it must not finish before activity 1.1.2 is complete
  Of course it may be difficult to say more than there may be temporal constraints of type X. Other constraints may be physical, computational or procedural?

• Product(s)

  The information products of the activity. These may be information resources which are changed in someway by the activity or created by the activity. They may be complex information products like a collection plan or a simple T/F response to a query.

• Duration

  This is optional at the moment

Example Verb Classification

• ANALYSE (notion of quantitative investigation)
  - predict, determine, monitor, diagnose, establish, measure
• ASSESS (notion of qualitative investigation)
  - estimate, expect, consider, ascertain, determine, evaluate
• ASSIGN (notion of authority and handing over of a resource/responsibility) - allocate, apportion, delegate
• COMMUNICATE (communications between agents)
  - request, acknowledge, reject
• DECIDE ()
  - complete, finalise, approve, terminate, choose
• DEVELOP (sense of growth or production of an artifact or "information product")
  - build, construct, produce, create, compose, prepare
• IDENTIFY (notion of set manipulation)
  - classify, group, match, select by consideration, compare, resemble, detect
• ISSUE ()
  - circulate, transmit, publish, deliver, release
• MODIFY (notion that one or more resources (info products) should be achanged in a prescribed way)
  - combine, join, link, refine, integrate, evolve, augment
• OBTAIN ()
  - recieve, acquire, establish
• ORGANISE (notion of managing/creating a structure)
  - co-ordinate, regularise, formalise, deconflict, phase, sequence, plan
• PERFORM (notion that the activity is carried out)
  - execute
• PRIORITISE (notion of ordering in relation to criteria)
  - order, rank
• PROVIDE (notion of giving something to third party)
  - supply, furnish, equip, offer, give, input
• REVIEW (notion of non-destructive extracting information)
  - learn, appraise, summarise, critique
• SUPPORT (notion of providing a level of effort to improve position of third party)
  - sustain, strength, approve

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