A system and method of interacting with a multi-agent distributed control
system employing a plurality of controllers on which are programmed a
plurality of agents in which the controllers are coupled by a network are
disclosed. The method includes providing a computer program capable of
operating a user interface, where the computer program is in
communication with the agents via the network. The method further
includes displaying agent-related information on the user interface by
way of a plurality of windows, where within a first of the windows is
further displayed a workflow among at least some of the agents, and
within a second of the windows is further displayed at least one of a
plurality of messages communicated among at least some of the agents, a
work unit requested by at least one of the agents, and message content
associated with at least one of the messages.