Systems, Man & Cybernetics - July 2015 - 32

in terms of optimization. In fact, RBC expands the applicathese tools to discover new challenges in the research of
tion areas of the optimization theory and models to include
collaboration systems. We suggest the following streams.
collaboration. The difference between RBC and optimiza◆ By introducing new parameters and conditions into role
tion research is that RBC presents a new viewpoint for
assignment, one may discover different constraints to role
researchers in their investigations of collaboration systems.
requirement. This stream may discover many challengOn the other hand, not all RBC problems are optimies that belong to the categories of linear programming
zations. In RBC, some problems
(LP) or nonlinear programming
are so complex that we only need
(NLP). For example, GRACA
to provide a feasible solution. For
(R/G) problems are challenges
With E-CARGO, many
example, the RTP is only to find
discovered in this way [61], [65].
a feasible solution. Also from the
◆ By introducing relationships
real-world problems
RTP, even though it is hard to set
among the components in the
can be discovered
up an optimized group that has no
E-CARGO model, one may
critical agents, we could use a comdiscover challenges related to
and formalized, and
puter-based solution, such as the
coordination, interaction, and
then computer-based
role-transfer tool to check whether
management [60], [66]. These
an existing group has critical agents
challenges may overlap with
solutions can be
[75], [81], [82], [86], [88]. The GRACA
those in logical systems or
specified or provided.
(R/G) problems can be transferred
algebraic systems [20].
into LP, but a solution may not have
◆ By detailing or adding the
to use LP.
parameters of the components
of E-CARGO, one may find
challenges to facilitate collaboration. The solutions to
Agent-Oriented Software Engineering
these challenges will facilitate the implementations of
Many researchers in this field advocate that roles, agents, and
collaboration systems, such as MASs. For example, if
groups are considered as fundamental concepts in the develindividual role-playing logic is added to an agent and
opment of software products [11], [32], [50]. Compared with
group role-playing logic is added to an environment,
agent-oriented software engineering (AOSE), RBC offers the
one may discover many challenges in intelligent agent
advantages of well-defined components and formalizations.
systems or MASs [3]-[6], [11]-[14], [19], [28], [30].
AOSE lacks formalizations in spite of some effort to establish
them [32]. This hampers the research in AOSE because it is
◆ By applying RBC and E-CARGO in related areas such
difficult to expand and clarify problems and, furthermore, to
as CSCW [84], software engineering [26], MASs [3]-[6],
verify and validate the proposed approaches. Software devel[11]-[14], [19], [28], scheduling [8], cloud computing [2],
opment is of such complexity that it is difficult to undertake in
[45], and web services [16], [21]-[24], [38], [47], [48], [56],
the absence of well-defined specification tools. Unified Modelone may formalize the problems in related areas and
ing Language (UML) is grammatical but not fully formalized.
propose innovative solutions. For example, applying
RBC and the E-CARGO model present a promising way to
GRA algorithms to role-based access control (RBAC)
overcome this obstacle.
solves the problem of different levels of assignments
in RBAC.
Note that the aforementioned innovative discoveries
MASs
are not intuitively deduced in related research methodoloMASs have been a hot, leading-edge research topic for many
gies other than RBC, such as NLP, logic systems, algebraic
years [11], [12], [30], [50]. Compared with MASs' approach
systems, and MASs. It is RBC and E-CARGO that provide
that encourages the individualism of agents, RBC offers
such opportunities for researchers to discover because
advantages based on a view of collectivism, more specifiRBC and E-CARGO illustrate new requirements in the
cally, on collaboration. In MASs, it is considered essential
sense of collaboration.
to design highly intelligent agents that collaborate with others while mainly considering self-benefit. RBC counters by
Connections with Other Research Fields
emphasizing the group benefit. Although there are some trials in the formalizations of role allocations in MASs [7], RBC
is a promising supplementary research to MASs.
Optimizations
It is interesting to note that many RBC problems involve
optimization. In fact, the RBC research establishes a useful
The Benefits of RBC
bridge between collaboration and optimization. OptimizaCompared with other role-based approaches [6], [10], [11],
tion methods can be applied to problem solving only when
[18], [25]-[33], [41]-[44], [50], RBC possesses the following
the problem can be well defined in terms of optimizations
properties that are considered advantages.
[35], [49] such as integer programming, LP, or NLP. RBC
◆ RBC has a specific and formalized model, E-CARGO.
provides an approach to specify many complex problems
◆ RBC presents a clearly stated process of collaboration.
32

IEEE Systems, Man, & Cybernetics Magazine July 2015 	



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