Transport Layer Prolog API (Version 1.20)
=========================================

The "transport" module is intended for sending and receiving
composed message. To compose/decompose messages, please
use the "message_format" module. If you want to (de)compose
and send/receive messages, please use the "messaging" module
instead.


Intialization & Shutdown
------------------------

1.	Initialize Transport Layer

	tp_init_transport(Parameters_with_value)

	Initialize the transport layer and get ready for
	communication. "Parameters_with_value" is a list of
	parameters with values specific to the communication
	platform. It is in the form:

	[arg1:value1, arg2:value2, ...].

	Supported arguments:


	server_host:	host name of Linda server
			*** This is a compulsory argument.

	server_port:	port no. of Linda server
			*** This is a compulsory argument.

	id:		The Id generator mode, which is
			one of "counter/random/very_random".

			If the mode is not specified, the
			default mode is the un-randomized
			random no. generator. i.e. everytime
			it starts, it generates the same sequence
			of random numbers.

			The "counter" mode generates incrementing
			integers starting from 1.

			The "random" mode uses the "second" part
			of the system timer to initialize the
			random number generator.

			The "very_random" mode uses the "micro-second"
			part of the system timer to initialize
			the random number generator.

	acknowledgement:	Specify the acknowledgement timeout value.

				A missing "acknowledgement" or a value of 0
				means no acknowledgement. An integer value N
				means the message sender will wait for N
				seconds before it times out.


2	Shutdown the Transport Layer

	tp_halt_transport

	Stop the Transport layer.


Utility Predicates
------------------

1.	Generate a Conversational-ID

	tp_generate_id(-Id)

	Generate an integer which can be used as an ID.
	The generator mode is determined by the "id" parameter
	when calling "tp_init_transport/1".


Message Sending & Receiving
---------------------------

1.	Send a Message

	tp_send_message(+Message)

	Send a composed message (by mf_compose_message/5 or /6 in
	the "message_format" module).


2.	Receive a Message

	tp_receive_message(?Message_template)

	Receive a message matching the message-template.
	"Message_template" is a message composed by composed_message/5
	or /6 specifying the receiving criteria.
	This API blocks until a matching message is received.


	tp_receive_message(My_name,-Message)

	Given the agent's name, receive a message targetted to it.
	This is a preferred API over "receive_message/1".
	This API blocks until a matching message is received.

	Instead of customising the receive-template, an agent should
	accept all messages sent to it and handle them appropriately.
	Selective receiving is not supported by all communication
	mechanism and is discouraged.


3.	Receive a Message without blocking

	tp_receive_message_noblock(?Message_template)

	Receive a message matching the message-template without	
	blocking.
	"Message_template" is a message composed by composed_message/5
	or /6 specifiying the matching template.


	tp_receive_message_noblock(My_name,-Message)

	Similary to "receive_message/2" but without blocking.