\title{Semantics of Communicating Agents\\ Based on Deduction and Abduction}
\author{\small Koen V. Hindriks, Frank S. de Boer, Wiebe van der Hoek
and John-Jules Ch. Meyer\\
University Utrecht, Department of Computer Science\\
P.O. Box 80.089, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands\\
tel. +31-30-2539267\\
\{koenh,frankb,wiebe,jj\}@cs.uu.nl}
\maketitle

\begin{abstract} \noindent
Intelligent agents in the agent language 3APL are computational entities
consisting of beliefs and goals which make up their mental state. In this
paper, we integrate communication at the agent level into the language
3APL. Communication at the agent level consists of communication between agents
of their beliefs and goals. We propose two pairs of communication primitives
for agent level communication. The semantics of these primitives are based on
two distinct types of reasoning: deduction and abduction. Deduction serves to
derive information from a received message. Abduction serves to explain
facts and to find plans to fulfil requests. We illustrate the use of these
communication primitives for agents by means of an example concerning meeting
scheduling. We also discuss the relation of our approach and approaches
to communication based on speech act theory.
\end{abstract}