A semantic framework for specifying agent communication languages

The paper presents a hybrid semantic framework for the specification of agent communication languages (ACL), unifying intentional semantics with protocol based approaches to provide a more expressive framework. A richer state description based on publicly expressed mental attitudes is introduced. The state description also allows agents to be assigned certain roles in a protocol. Together, this moves to a more workflow-oriented approach, in which conversations are guided by protocols but the effect of individual communicative acts is highly sensitive to the context in which it occurs. We evaluate the usefulness of this framework as a standard for ACLs