Re: PROV-ISSUE-4 (define-agent): Definition for Concept 'Agent' [Provenance Terminology]

Hi Luc, Khalid, all,
> Can an agent be defined independently of processes?
I agree with Khalid here.

> agent   is linked to       process execution (Satya)
I would actually put it the other way:
process (execution) has participant agent

where "has participant" corresponds to the provenance concept (property)
"participation" - http://www.w3.org/2011/prov/wiki/ConceptParticipation

The participation notion is more generic than control, since an agent may
also be participating in a process without controlling it. For example,
temperature/precipitation sensor.

Thanks.

Best,
Satya

On Tue, Jun 7, 2011 at 5:48 PM, Khalid Belhajjame <
Khalid.Belhajjame@cs.man.ac.uk> wrote:

> Hi Luc,
>
>
>  1. Can an agent be defined independently of processes?
>>
>
> Yes. In principle, an agent can be associated with zero or multiple process
> executions.
>
>  2. You are using various verbs relating agents to process execution:
>>
>> agent   controls            process execution  (Khalid)
>>
> When I used the verb "control", I guess I was thinking of situations in
> which the agent:
> - initiates a process execution and/or
> - terminates a process execution
>
>
>  agent   is involved in    process execution (Jun)
>>
> Jun also used the verb perform, which I guess refer to situations in which
> the process is manual, and it is the responsibility of the agent to perform
> it, e.g., baking bread.
>
> Thanks, khalid
>
>
>  agent   is linked to       process execution (Satya)
>>
>> Can these verbs be clarified further and distinguished?
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Luc
>>
>>
>> On 06/06/11 19:38, Khalid Belhajjame wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I added a definition of the concept "agent".
>>>
>>> Definition: An agent is a (physical or digital) entity that controls one
>>> or multiple process executions
>>>
>>> - The newspaper, the blogger and the government portal are examples of
>>> agents
>>>
>>> I would prefer to use the term “controller” instead of “agent”. To me,
>>> the term “agent” is a bit vague.
>>>
>>> Thanks, khalid
>>>
>>> On 20/05/2011 08:04, Provenance Working Group Issue Tracker wrote:
>>>
>>>> PROV-ISSUE-4 (define-agent): Definition for Concept 'Agent' [Provenance
>>>> Terminology]
>>>>
>>>> http://www.w3.org/2011/prov/track/issues/4
>>>>
>>>> Raised by: Luc Moreau
>>>> On product: Provenance Terminology
>>>>
>>>> The Provenance WG charter identifies the concept 'Agent' as a core
>>>> concept of the provenance interchange language to be standardized (see
>>>> http://www.w3.org/2011/01/prov-wg-charter).
>>>>
>>>> What term do we adopt for the concept 'Agent'?
>>>> How do we define the concept 'Agent'?
>>>> Where does concept 'Agent' appear in ProvenanceExample?
>>>> Which provenance query requires the concept 'Agent'?
>>>>
>>>> Wiki page: http://www.w3.org/2011/prov/wiki/ConceptAgent
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>