The interface to the IDL-toolset consists of two identical entry forms for IDLs and conceptual graphs (see the right and left hand side of the applet below). The buttons labeled Load Demo IDL i copy some demo IDLs to the IDL-window. The button Convert IDL -> CG translates the IDL in the upper IDL-window to a conceptual graph and copies it to the lower CG-window. The tool automatically recognizes whether the IDL-window contains a CORBA- or a DCE-IDL.
The button Convert CG -> IDL is the inverse operation. It translates a conceptual graph to an IDL. The kind of IDL is determined by the choice button located to the right of the button. Once both IDL-windows contain a valid IDL, the button called Compute Subtypes tests, whether IDL 1 is a subtype of IDL 2. The tools tries three different subtying rule; those of DCE, CORBA and ODP. The results are displayed accordingly.
To get started you might want to try the following steps:
The paper entitled System Support for Knowledge-Based Trading in Open Service Markets of the publication section explains the architechture of the AI-Trader as well as the different subtyping rules found in various infrastructures. If you like to see the implementation of the subtyping rules (written in Prolog), you can visit our graphical user interface to the AI-Trader and choose the menu Edit/Edit matching rules...