2. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. SOA, Software Agents — and Insurance James Odell email@jamesodell.com www.jamesodell.com

3. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. SOA Overview Technical Service Portfolio ComponentsResourcesESB Business Service Portfolio Orchestrations Business Processes Business Goals ! ? → Business Rules F F F F F F Business Services Technical Services 2 (Based on slide from ProForma)

4. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Traditional techniques cannot deliver dynamic processes ws wswsws ws Existing databases, SOA, ontologies, … Rich Internet Apps Request events Process selection Conventional processing approach Order Managemen t Technical Functionality WarehousingTransportation Value-added Processes Existing silos/application events Architecture evolution events 3

5. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. wswsws ws Existing databases, SOA, ontologies, … Dynamic (business and IT) process orchestration Rich Internet Apps Dynamic process configuration Goal determination Order Managemen t Technical Functionality WarehousingTransportation Value-added Processes Request events Architecture evolution events Existing silos/applications events Dynamically manages, allocates, and orchestrates services in changing environments and unpredictable situations. 4 ws

6. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Traditional business process handling Process request Process Business Process Handler Simple nested processes

7. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Service-oriented handling - 1 Agent Current State Plan Library Adaptive Process Manager (Agent Server) Condition Process Events Process request

8. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Agent Current State Plan Library Adaptive Process Manager (Agent Server) Condition Process Condition Process Events Process request Service-oriented handling - 2

9. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Agent Current State Plan Library Adaptive Process Manager (Agent Server) Condition Process Condition Process Condition Process Events Process request Service-oriented handling - 3

10. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. wswsws ws Existing databases, SOA, ontologies, … Dynamic (business and IT) process orchestration Rich Internet Apps Dynamic process configuration Goal determination Order Managemen t Technical Functionality WarehousingTransportation Value-added Processes Request events Architecture evolution events Existing silos/applications events Dynamically manages, allocates, and orchestrates services in changing environments and unpredictable situations. 9 ws

11. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. ws wswsws ws Existing databases, SOA, ontologies, … Order Managemen t Technical Functionality Dynamic and collaborative Processing Rich Internet Apps Goal determination Dynamic and collaborative processing Providers Requester WarehousingTransportation Value-added Processes Request events Architecture evolution events Existing silos/applications events Call for proposal Bid / (no bid) Award / (no award) Confirm / (decline) Proceed (abort) ProviderConsumer Interaction Protocol (Collaboration = advanced choreography) 10

12. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. ws wswsws ws Existing databases, SOA, ontologies, … Order Managemen t Technical Functionality Dynamic and collaborative processing Rich Internet Apps Goal determination Dynamic and collaborative processing Providers (Collaboration = advanced choreography) Requester WarehousingTransportation Value-added Processes Request events Architecture evolution events Existing silos/applications events 11

13. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. ws wswsws ws Existing databases, SOA, ontologies, … Order Managemen t Technical Functionality Dynamic, collaborative resource configuration Rich Internet Apps Goal determination Dynamic, collaborative resource aggregation Providers Requester WarehousingTransportation Value-added Processes Request events Architecture evolution events Existing silos/applications events 12 Aggregators

14. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Resource Type and Resource Instance example Resource Instance Resource Type John Doe Electrical Engineer Sue Smith Permitted categories of resourcesIndividual resources Ken ’ s Truck W/VIN #122469870 Car Painter Ford Ranger Truck 0..*1..* classified instance resource classifier Mary ’ s Truck W/VIN #543216710 Truck Is a kind of … Consists of Engine ……

15. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Resource-related Concepts 0..*1..* suggestion compatibility constraints … suggestion compatibility constraints …

16. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Operation Type and Operation Instance example Operation Instance Operation Type Paint station #3 painted car #412 yesterday Create Order #123 Paint Vehicle Create Order 0..*1..* classified instance operation classifier Sue Smith paints Truck W/VIN #543216710 today Permitted categories of operationsIndividual operations

17. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Operation-related Classes

18. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. High-level Order Perspective 0..* 1..* … … … …

19. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Goals for Configuration Model  To create a standard ontology for configuration information - enables a common understanding of all concepts and terms.  To provide a model-driven approach (MDA) to software development - updates the very core of the configurator software without changing any component of the software.  To enable machine-readable syntax - representation of resources and resource properties in (probably) XML so that these XML-based input can be read by the model-based library  Enables dynamic: Change of resource capability/preference Change of user requirements

20. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. ws wswsws ws Existing databases, SOA, ontologies, … Order Managemen t Technical Functionality Dynamic, collaborative resource configuration Rich Internet Apps Goal determination Dynamic, collaborative resource aggregation Providers Requester WarehousingTransportation Value-added Processes Request events Architecture evolution events Existing silos/applications events 19 Aggregators

21. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. ws wswsws ws Existing databases, SOA, ontologies, … Order Managemen t Technical Functionality EDA and Complex-event processing (CEP) Rich Internet Apps Goal determination Providers Requester WarehousingTransportation Value-added Processes Request events Architecture evolution events Existing silos/applications events Dynamically manages, allocates, and orchestrates events in changing environments and unpredictable situations. 20

22. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. SOA, EDA, BPM — and Agents Agents Services Business Process Orchestration Choreography Event Driven Architecture (EDA) Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) Business Process Management (BPM)

23. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. What makes this different? Dynamically manages, allocates, and orchestrates resources in changing environments and unpredictable situations.  Problem can be broken down into small manageable pieces — agents — within the business context. Enable the business to scale and adapt where it could not before.  Agents can collaborate dynamically within and across different business contexts. It allows the business to achieve business goals by reusing business logic across applications without recoding.  Agents extend existing technologies so that they are more applicable. It allows the business to leverage existing investment in technologies. 22

24. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Where do software agents fit? Complexity LowHigh Change Rate Transaction model Automation of routine work Well-defined rules & procedures Individual actors in sequence Major IT investments in the past Software Agents Active management of exceptions Dynamically senses and responds Scales readily to millions of transactions Satisfies “Right Place, Right Time” New differentiating IT investments Sweet spot for agents 23

25. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. 24 The path to Adaptive Technologies Level of abstraction Timeline The evolution of programming Command line oriented 2GL, Assembler Function oriented 3GL, C, Pascal Object oriented C++, Java Agent oriented “Agent technology heralds the introduction of adaptive applications.” Daryl Plummer, GM and Vice President, Gartner (Business Integration Journal, March 2004) “Agent technology heralds the introduction of adaptive applications.” Daryl Plummer, GM and Vice President, Gartner (Business Integration Journal, March 2004) “Agent technology is the foundation of adaptive solutions.” Navi Radjou, Principal Analyst, Forrester “Agent technology is the foundation of adaptive solutions.” Navi Radjou, Principal Analyst, Forrester

26. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Basic elements  Data The agent’s knowledge of the surrounding environment  Actions The agent’s capabilities (action plans, scripts, Java code, SQL)  Goals Logical description of what needs to be achieved  Role Services the agent can provide to other agents within a domain  Interaction Protocol Customized inter-agent communication, including negotiation and bidding  Domain A collaboration area ERP CRM DataBase Information System Interaction Protocol Agent - An autonomous software entity that can adapt and interact with its environment (“active object” UML) 25

27. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. The Technology Stack ProcessesEventsPolicies Transport EAI SOA/BPM/EDA/Rules EnginesSOA/ESB Agents 26

28. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Rigid Passive Siloed Dynamic Active Collaborative Agile and scalable, reducing TTM, TCO, and risks without recoding Processes that can adapt in real time, within current business context and events, to improve decisions Collaborate and orchestrate resources to extend and improve business operations What can we bring? 27

29. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Service architectures enhanced using agents W3C, Web Services Architecture, W3C Working Group Note, February 11, 2004. http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/NOTE-ws-arch-20040211/ OASIS, Reference Model for Service Oriented Architecture 1.0, Committee Specification 1, August 2, 2006. http://www.oasis- open.org/committees/tc_home.php?wg_abbrev=soa-rm  Rich interaction at an individual level.  Fine-grained resource support. Socially inspired architecture AKA Netcentric 28

30. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. W3C WSA - The Service-Oriented Perspective 29 And now the OMG has two upcoming standards that include agents: - SOA (UPMS RFP) - EDA (EDA RFP)

31. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. OMG standards  UPMS (UML Profile and Metamodel for Services SOA-related OMG standard -- in progress. Revised submission due December.  EMP (Event Metamodel and Profile) EDA/CEP-related OMG standard -- in progress. RFP due December.  AMP (Agent Metamodel and Profile) Agent-related OMG standard -- in progress. RFP due December. 30

32. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. What do Agents do?  Agents enable dynamic allocation, synchronization, and orchestration of multiple resources in changing environments and unpredictable situations.  A resource can be a business service(s) or process(s), people (complex workflow with event management), power generation source (Green IT example) etc. 31

33. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Cutting through the vertical service and resource silos Dynamic,Collaborative,Adaptive Agents Product Design Mfg. and Quality Supply Chain Sales and Marketing Business Service... Agents can provide both: Collaboration Infrastructure and Facilitation/Management. Instead of being limited to searching within traditional IT area “silos” … … cut through the vertical limitations and enable true EAI and SOA Vertical service and resource silos Internet, extranet, enterprise bus 32

34. Copyright © 2007 OSLO - All rights reserved. Thank you! 33