Instructor: Dr. Larry Kerschberg
Meeting Time and Place:
Wednesdays: 4:30 - 7:10 p.m.,
Krug Hall, Room 242.
Office Hours:
Wednesdays: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., S&T II, Room 459.
Course Objectives:
This course addresses the research and development issues needed to realize the vision of the Semantic Web via the use of Intelligent Agents. The World Wide Web, or simply the Web, is an example of an application of computing on a global scale, thereby creating a Distributed Information Space. In order to be able to categorize, access and process the knowledge contained on the Web, we will require intelligent agents to sift and winnow data and information into knowledge. In order for computers to communicate, they will need to understand each other; this will be accomplished through the "semantic web markup" together with agents that understand that markup and can act on our behalf. We will study the role of intelligent agents in the Semantic Web framework.
Topics Covered:
The course will address the following topics:
- The Semantic Web and Web Knowledge;
- Agency: Reactive and Deductive Agents;
- Reasoning on the Web: Query Languages, Description Logics, and Rule Languages;
- Agent Communication: Communication Techniques, Agent Ontologies, Dialogues, Belief Systems and Social Systems;
- Semantic Web Services.
For those students who have taken INFS 770 - Knowledge Management for E-Business, this course is a natural follow-on course.
Grading Policy:
The grade will be determined by grades obtained in individual assignments, research paper review and report, a group research project, and class participation.
| Topic | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Individual Assignments | 20 |
| Individual Research Paper Review | 10 |
| Group Research Assignment and Presentation | 15 |
| Group Research Project and Presentation | 30 |
| Class Participation | 10 |
| Final Exam | 15 |
In the group projects, students form small, 2-3 person, teams to perform research on a topic related to the course.
Textbook:
Required Text:
C. Walton, Agency and the Semantic Web, Oxford University Press, Inc., New York, ISBN 0-19-929248-5, 2007
Recommended Texts:
M. Wooldridge, Introduction to multiagent systems, ISBN: 0470849398 (electronic bk. available through GMU Library; GMU login required from off-campus).
K.K. Breitman, M.A. Casanova and W. Truszkowski, Semantic Web: Concepts, Technologies and Applications, Springer, London, 2007, ISBN-10: 1-84628-581-X
F. Bellifemine, G. Caire and D. Greenwood, developing multi-agent systems with JADE, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, England, ISBN: 978-0-470-05747-6.
A collection of papers will be selected from the ACM and IEEE Digital Libraries to complement the textbook.
Schedule of Lectures (subject to change)
| Class | Date | Topics | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
8/27/08 |
Course Introduction and the Semantic Web | Walton (W): Chapter 1. |
2 |
9/03/08 |
Web Knowledge | W: Chapter 2. |
3 |
9/10/08 |
Reactive Agents Introduction to JADE; a Java-based multiagent environment. |
W: Chapter 3. Readings |
4 |
9/17/08 |
Practical Reasoning and Deductive Agents | W: Chapter 4. |
5 |
9/24/08 |
Practical Reasoning and Deductive Agents | W: Chapter 4. |
6 |
10/01/08 |
Ontologies for Agents | W: Chapter 5. Readings. |
7 |
10/08/08 |
Reasoning on the Web |
W: Chapter 5. |
8 |
10/15/08 |
Reasoning on the Web | W: Chapter 5. |
9 |
10/22/08 |
Reasoning on the Web | W: Chapter 5. |
10 |
10/29/08 |
Agent Communication | W: Chapter 6. |
11 |
11/05/08 |
Agent Communication | W: Chapter 6. |
12 |
11/12/08 |
Agent Communication | W: Chapter 6. |
13 |
11/19/08 |
Semantic Web Services | W. Chapter 7. |
14 |
11/26/08 |
Thanksgiving Recess |
No Class |
15 |
12/03/08 |
Student Presentations | |
16 |
12/10/08 |
Final Exam |