Agent-based transformational patterns

Design patterns are rigidly structured components that interact within a software architecture and are used to address recurring software design problems. The static nature of patterns requires potentially rigorous software development techniques to be employed prior to runtime of the software system. With the advent of the new software paradigm of agents and multi-agent systems it is possible to develop flexible patterns that allow for modifications and adaptations of the object components and their interactions within a pattern during runtime execution. Transformational patterns are one technique for providing flexible design component alternatives. This paper presents an introduction to transformational patterns.