MULTI-AGENT COLLABORATIVE ARCHITECTURE FOR PROBLEM SOLVING AND TUTORING

An architecture for a computer system for problem solving and tutoring includes multiple domain dependent agents, each having a knowledge base, multiple domain independent agents and dedicated blackboards assigned to each agent. The agents communicate with their dedicated blackboards via a transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) links and messages are moved between the blackboards by a blackboard agent. The domain independent agents include a control agent that passes a token between the agents. An agent may function only when it has the token. The domain independent agents also include a user interface agent, a database agent and a tutoring agent. Training/testing data repository and student databases are also present. The latter stores information regarding student actions during testing or tutoring sessions. The architecture may be employed on multiple machines to permit geographically diverse users to simultaneously role-play.