Using a Prolog meta-programming approach for a blackboard application

Substantial integration and control issues arise when developing distributed, heterogeneous blackboard-based systems. We present the design and implementation of a Prolog-based blackboard system for the simulation of portfolio management tasks. The design addresses control and integration issues with an approach based on meta-level architectures and logic problems. A common interface capturing important meta-level knowledge about individual knowledge sources, i.e. the blackboard system components, is described. The interface is structured and can easily accomodate existing knowledge sources. Adaptive control is achieved by a set of control knowledge sources acting at both the object and meta levels. The goal of the application is to provide an environment in which independently developed subsystems used by a portfolio manager can be integrated and controlled without necessitating major modifications to the original code.