Multi-agent system for virtually integrated distributed databases

To achieve collaborations by sharing information in inter-enterprise environments such as GALS, a method of accessing seamlessly databases distributed over a network is required. In this paper, we show a multi-agent system which virtually integrates distributed databases. With this system, users can access seamlessly databases as if accessing a single database. As benefits of the multi-agent architecture, our system has features desirable for information sharing in inter-enterprise environments; each enterprise can set up independently the policy for maintenance, management, and security on the system. The experimental system was built up under the Steel Plant GALS project in Japan, which proved the efficiency and effectiveness of our method.