Publications

@inproceedings{pilatoSubsymbolicSemanticLayer2007,

title = {Sub-Symbolic Semantic Layer in Cyc for Intuitive Chat-Bots},

author = { Giovanni Pilato and Agnese Augello and Giorgio Vassallo and Salvatore Gaglio},

doi = {10.1109/ICSC.2007.37},

isbn = {0-7695-2997-6 978-0-7695-2997-4},

year  = {2007},

date = {2007-01-01},

booktitle = {ICSC 2007 International Conference on Semantic Computing},

pages = {121--128},

abstract = {The work presented in this paper aims to combine Latent Semantic Analysis methodology, common sense and traditional knowledge representation in order to improve the dialogue capabilities of a conversational agent. In our approach the agent brain is characterized by two areas: a "rational area", composed by a structured, rule-based knowledge base, and an "associative area", obtained through a data-driven semantic space. Concepts are mapped in this space and their mutual geometric distance is related to their conceptual similarity. The geometric distance between concepts implicitly defines a sub-symbolic relationship net, which can be seen as a new "subsymbolic semantic layer" automatically added to the Cyc ontology. Users queries can also be mapped in the same conceptual space, and evoke similar ontology concepts. As a result the agent can exploit this feature, attempting to retrieve ontological concepts that are not easily reachable by means of the traditional ontology reasoning engine. textcopyright 2007 IEEE.},

keywords = {Artificial intelligence, Chatbots, Common Sense Reasoning, Conversational Agents, Cyc Ontology, Knowledge Representation, Latent Semantic Analysis, Ontologies, Semantic Computing, Semantic Spaces},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{augelloMultimodalInteractionGuide2007,

title = {A Multimodal Interaction Guide for Pervasive Services Access},

author = { Agnese Augello and Antonella Santangelo and Salvatore Sorce and Giovanni Pilato and Antonio Gentile and Alessandro Genco and Salvatore Gaglio},

doi = {10.1109/PERSER.2007.4283923},

isbn = {1-4244-1326-5 978-1-4244-1326-3},

year  = {2007},

date = {2007-01-01},

booktitle = {2007 IEEE International Conference on Pervasive Services, ICPS},

pages = {250--256},

abstract = {A pervasive, multimodal virtual guide for a cultural heritage site tour is illustrated. The guide is based on the integration of different technologies such as conversational agents, commonsense reasoning knowledge bases, multimodal interfaces and self-location detection systems. The aim of the work is to offer a more natural, context sensitive access to information with respect to traditional audio/visual pre-recorded guides. A prototype has been developed and implemented on a Qtek 9090 with Windows Mobile 2003 in order to deal with the "Museo Archeologico Regionale di Agrigento" domain. textcopyright 2007 IEEE.},

keywords = {Common Sense Reasoning, Conversational Agents, Cultural heritage, IVA, Multimodal Interaction, Pervasive Systems},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{sabatucciSeparationConcernsRole2007,

title = {Separation of Concerns and Role Implementation in the Passi Design Process},

author = { Luca Sabatucci and Salvatore Gaglio},

doi = {10.1109/INDIN.2007.4384928},

year  = {2007},

date = {2007-01-01},

booktitle = {Industrial Informatics, 2007 5th IEEE International Conference On},

volume = {2},

abstract = {The use of design patterns proved successful in lowering the development time and number of errors when producing software with the object-oriented paradigm. In previous works we engaged the production of a tool for the reuse of patterns for multi-agent systems. Now we are fronting a new problem: automatic code generation for agents, designed with a specific methodology, with the support of design patterns and using an aspect oriented approach. In this work we present our preliminary experiences in the identification, description, production and use of aspects for multi agent systems and a tool for code production.},

keywords = {Design Patterns, Design Process, Multi agent systems},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{sorceMultimodalGuideAugmented2007,

title = {A Multimodal Guide for the Augmented Campus},

author = { Salvatore Sorce and Agnese Augello and Antonella Santangelo and Giovanni Pilato and Antonio Gentile and Alessandro Genco and Salvatore Gaglio},

doi = {10.1145/1294046.1294123},

isbn = {978-1-59593-634-9},

year  = {2007},

date = {2007-01-01},

booktitle = {Proceedings ACM SIGUCCS User Services Conference},

pages = {325--331},

abstract = {The use of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) with ad-hoc built-in information retrieval and auto-localization functionalities can help people navigating an environment in a more natural manner compared to traditional audio/visual pre-recorded guides. In this work we propose and discuss a user-friendly, multi-modal guide system for pervasive context-aware service provision within augmented environments. The proposed system is adaptable to the user needs of mobility within a given environment; it is usable on different mobile devices and in particular on PDAs, which are used as advanced adaptive HEI (human-environment interaction) interfaces. An information retrieval service is provided that is easily accessible through spoken language interaction in cooperation with an auto-localization service. The interaction is enabled by speech recognition and synthesis technologies, and by a ChatBot system, endowed with common sense reasoning capabilities to properly interpret user speech and provide him with the requested information. This interaction mode turns to be more natural, and users are required to have only basic skills on the use of PDAs. The auto-localization service relies on a RFID-based framework, which resides partly in the mobile side of the entire system (PDAs), and partly in the environment side. In particular, RFID technology allows the system to provide users with context-related information. An implemented case study is showed that illustrates service provision in an augmented environment within university campus settings (termed "Augmented Campus"). Lastly, a discussion about user experiences while using trial services within the Augmented Campus is given. textcopyright Copyright 2007 ACM.},

keywords = {Human computer interaction, Information Retrieval, Multimodal Interaction},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{cossentinoAgentOrientedTool2006,

title = {An Agent Oriented Tool for Method Engineering},

author = { Massimo Cossentino and Luca Sabatucci and Valeria Seidita and Salvatore Gaglio},

year  = {2006},

date = {2006-01-01},

booktitle = {EUMAS},

abstract = {In the last years we applied the Method Engineering paradigm to the development of agent-oriented design processes. The main difficulty in our initial experiments was ensuring the support of a customised CASE tool to the new methodology. In this paper we now present a Computer-Aided Process Engineering (CAPE) tool that we developed in order to allow the design of the new process and then its instantiation. The process is executed as a workflow, the designer receives the help of an expert system (for routine works automation and syntax/semantic checks) and can model his/her system using a set of Eclipse plug-ins supporting all UML diagrams. The development of this tool started from the definition of a system metamodel obtained from the initial requirements and then instantiated using open-source and ad hoc developed components; as it could be expected relevant portions of this tool are developed using the agent-oriented paradigm.},

keywords = {Agents, Design Process, Situational Method Engineering, Supporting Tool},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{augelloMultimodalChatbotBased2006,

title = {A Multimodal Chat-Bot Based Information Technology System},

author = { Agnese Augello and Antonella Santangelo and Antonio Gentile and Salvatore Gaglio and Giovanni Pilato},

year  = {2006},

date = {2006-01-01},

booktitle = {4th International Industrial Simulation Conference 2006, ISC 2006},

pages = {86--90},

publisher = {EUROSIS},

abstract = {The proposed system integrates chat-bot and speech recognition technologies in order to build a versatile, user-friendly, virtual assistant guide with information retrieval capabilities. The system is adaptable to the user needs of mobility being also usable on different devices (i.e. PDAs, Smartphone). The system has been implemented on a Qtek 9090 with Windows Mobile 2003 and a simulation for the cultural heritage domain is here presented.},

keywords = {Cultural heritage, Human computer interaction, IVA, Multimodal Interaction},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{cossentinoPassiAgilePassi2005,

title = {The Passi and Agile Passi Mas Meta-Models Compared with a Unifying Proposal},

author = { Massimo Cossentino and Salvatore Gaglio and Luca Sabatucci and Valeria Seidita},

doi = {10.1007/11559221_19},

year  = {2005},

date = {2005-01-01},

booktitle = {Multi-Agent Systems and Applications IV: 4th International Central and Eastern European Conference on Multi-Agent Systems, CEEMAS 2005, Budapest, Hungary, September 15– 17, 2005. Proceedings 4},

pages = {183--192},

publisher = {Springer Berlin Heidelberg},

abstract = {A great number of processes for multi-agent systems design have been presented in last years to support the different approaches to agent-oriented design; each process is specific for a particular class of problems and it instantiates a specific MAS meta-model. These differences produce inconsistences and overlaps: a MAS meta-model may define a term not referred by another, or the same term can be used with a different meaning. We think that the lack of a standardization may cause a significant delay to the diffusion of the agent paradigm outside research context. Working for this unification goal, it is also necessary to define in unambiguous way the terms of the agent model and their relationships thus obtaining a unified MAS meta-model. In this work we propose the PASSI MAS meta-model, the results of its adaptation to the needs of an agile process (Agile PASSI), and a comparison with an existing unifying proposal of MAS meta-model composed by considering three different processes (ADELFE, Gaia and PASSI).},

keywords = {Agents, Agile Development, Design Process, Multi agent systems, Standardization},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{pilatoSimpleSolutionImproving2005,

title = {A Simple Solution for Improving the Effectiveness of Traditional Information Retrieval Systems},

author = { Giovanni Pilato and Giorgio Vassallo and Maria Vasile and Agnese Augello and Salvatore Gaglio},

isbn = {960-8457-09-2},

year  = {2005},

date = {2005-01-01},

booktitle = {Proceedings of the 4th WSEAS International Conference on Software Engineering, Parallel & Distributed Systems},

publisher = {World Scientific and Engineering Academy and Society (WSEAS)},

address = {Stevens Point, Wisconsin, USA},

series = {SEPADS'05},

abstract = {In this paper we present a system based on the LSA paradigm to improve the performance of a traditional information retrieval system. The proposed system aims to improve both the recall and the precision capabilities of traditional search engines thanks to a semantic query expansion and a subsequent semantic results filtering. A collection of 650 documents has been used to compare the performances of the proposed system with a traditional search engine. Experimental trials show the effectiveness of the proposed solution.},

keywords = {Human computer interaction, Information Retrieval, Latent Semantic Analysis, Semantic Spaces},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{chellaPassiAgilePassi2004,

title = {From Passi to Agile Passi: Tailoring a Design Process to Meet New Needs},

author = { Antonio Chella and Massimo Cossentino and Luca Sabatucci and Valeria Seidita},

doi = {10.1109/IAT.2004.1342998},

year  = {2004},

date = {2004-01-01},

booktitle = {Proceedings. IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on Intelligent Agent Technology, 2004.(IAT 2004).},

pages = {471--474},

publisher = {IEEE},

abstract = {From several years we are developing robotic multiagent systems according to well defined design methodologies. These methodologies evolved over time because of the changes in the operating environments (robotic hardware and software platforms) and specific missions accomplished by our robots. In the last four years we used PASSI (Process for Agent Societies Specification and Implementation) obtaining good results but, the growing experience and day by day accelerating changes in requirements suggested us to find a new and more versatile approach. In this context we developed the Agile PASSI methodology discussed in this paper; it is an agile process built up capitalizing all the experiences done with PASSI and its supporting tools some of which have been adapted and reused in the new process.},

keywords = {Agents, Agile Development, Multi agent systems, Robotic Applications},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{cossentinoPatternsReusePASSI2004,

title = {Patterns Reuse in the PASSI Methodology},

author = { Massimo Cossentino and Luca Sabatucci and Antonio Chella},

doi = {10.1007/978-3-540-25946-6_19},

year  = {2004},

date = {2004-01-01},

booktitle = {Engineering Societies in the Agents World IV: 4th International Workshops, ESAW 2003, London, UK, October 29-31, 2003. Revised Selected and Invited Papers 4},

pages = {294--310},

publisher = {Springer Berlin Heidelberg},

abstract = {Design patterns already proved successful in lowering the development time and number of errors of object-oriented software; now, they are, candidate to play a similar role in the MAS (multi-agent system) context. In this work we describe our experiences in the identification, production and application of patterns for agents. Some patterns are described together with the classification criteria and documentation approach we adopt. Upon them, we base a pattern reuse process that can be considered one of the distinguishing elements of the design methodology (PASSI) we use to develop MAS. Patterns can be applied to an existing agent or used to produce a new one with the support of a specific web based application that can read both the JAVA source code and XMI representation of the agent design documentation. After the successful application of the desired pattern(s), the source code and the design diagrams (usually a structural and dynamic diagram) of the agent can be exported. Some experimental results are reported in order to demonstrate the utility of this approach in automatically producing an interesting percentage of code lines.},

keywords = {Design Process, JADE, Multi agent systems},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{sciannaMultimediaGuideArchaeological2004a,

title = {Multimedia Guide in Archaeological Sites by GIS-GPS Techniques, Pocketpcs and Pocket GPSs},

author = { Andrea Scianna and Benedetto Villa and Alessio Ammoscato and Rita Corsale},

year  = {2004},

date = {2004-01-01},

booktitle = {International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences - ISPRS Archives},

volume = {35},

publisher = {International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing},

abstract = {Archaeology is one of the sectors that can benefit by new surveying techniques (i.e. those ones related to the use of GPS) for the representation and the management of an archaeological site. Another aspect of the archaeological sector that can take advantage from the use of both GPS and GIS instruments is guided visits of archaeological sites. Today, during visits in museums, visitors often use some electronic equipments as sound players, special headsets or personal computers equipped with multimedia applications. All this is possible because archaeological goods are in a relatively small covered area, where there are also people that can help the visitor at every time. On the opposite, about visiting open archaeological sites, some other problems or needs come out connected to the big dimension of the area, to the scattered distribution of archaeological goods and to meteorological conditions. So enjoying the site with traditional electronics equipment become impossible. On the contrary both Pocket GPSs and PocketPCs, connected together, May be very useful if used for multimedia guided visits of archaeological sites. This paper treats of the creation of a GIS multimedia guide running on PocketPC connected to a Pocket GPS by the Bluetooth interface, developed with Enhanced Visual Basic. The system is in the testing stage in some archaeological sites in Sicily. textcopyright 2004 International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. All Rights Reserved.},

keywords = {Archaeological Site, Geographical Information Systems},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{cossentinoIntroducingPatternReuse2003,

title = {Introducing Pattern Reuse in the Design of Multi-Agent Systems},

author = { Massimo Cossentino and Piermarco Burrafato and Saverio Lombardo and Luca Sabatucci},

doi = {10.1007/3-540-36559-1_10},

year  = {2003},

date = {2003-01-01},

booktitle = {Agent Technologies, Infrastructures, Tools, and Applications for E-Services: NODe 2002 Agent-Related Workshops Erfurt, Germany, October 7– 10, 2002 Revised Papers 4},

pages = {107--120},

publisher = {Springer Berlin Heidelberg},

abstract = {In the last years, multi-agent systems (MAS) have proved more and more successful. The need of a quality software engineering approach to their design arises together with the need of new methodological ways to address important issues such as ontology representation, security concerns and production costs. The introduction of an extensive pattern reuse practice can be determinant in cutting down the time and cost of developing these systems. Patterns can be extremely successful with MAS (even more than with object-oriented systems) because the great encapsulation of agents allows an easier identification and disposition of reusable parts. In this paper we discuss our approach to the pattern reuse that is a phase of a more comprehensive approach to agentoriented software design.},

keywords = {Design Patterns, Multi agent systems, Semantic layer},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{cossentinoPossibleApproachDevelopment2003,

title = {A Possible Approach to the Development of Robotic Multi-Agent Systems},

author = { Massimo Cossentino and Luca Sabatucci and Antonio Chella},

doi = {10.1109/IAT.2003.1241140},

year  = {2003},

date = {2003-01-01},

booktitle = {IEEE/WIC International Conference on Intelligent Agent Technology, 2003. IAT 2003.},

pages = {539--544},

publisher = {IEEE},

abstract = {The design of a an agent system for robotics is a problem that involves aspects coming from many different disciplines (robotics, artificial intelligence, computer vision, software engineering). The most difficult part of it, often consists in producing and tuning the algorithms that incorporates the robot behavior (planning, obstacle avoidance,. . . ) and abilities (vision, manipulation, navigation,. . . ). Frequently, the reuse of these parts is left to a copy and paste procedure from previous applications to the new one. In so doing many problems could arise. We propose a comprehensive approach for multi-agent systems oriented to robotics applications that uses a complete design methodology supported by a specific design tools and a pattern repository that interacting each other and with the designer allow the production of a coherent design that easily incorporates patterns coming from previously experienced features and automatically produces a large part of the final code},

keywords = {Agents, Design Process, Multi agent systems, Reusability, Robotic Applications},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}