下一代信息系統（ISS）的范例將涉及分布在大型、復雜計算機/通信網絡上的大量ISS。這樣的ISS將管理或訪問大量的信息和計算服務，并將根據需要進行互操作。這些支持個人或協作的人工工作。組件系統之間的通信將使用從傳統協議到基于分布式人工智能的協議來完成。我們稱之為下一代ISS合作信息系統（CIS）。《國際合作信息系統雜志》（IJCIS）論述了分布式可互操作信息系統框架內合作工作的復雜性。它為展示和傳播研究提供了一個論壇，涵蓋CIS設計、需求、功能、實現、部署和演進的所有方面。IJCIS將發表論文，描述原始想法和新成果，主題包括但不限于：獨聯體原則——合作、情報、自主。CIS的體系結構和通信協議-開放式體系結構、黑板系統、多代理規劃框架、語音行為、支持互操作性的高級信息服務。信息代理-模型和組織，虛擬實驗室中信息代理技術的應用，并行工程和其他群件框架。大型知識庫，用于獨聯體共享和重用全球知識、知識結構知識、這一領域的趨勢和應用。CIS的核心技術-開放分布式計算體系結構、類型系統、對象模型和互操作性高級事務模型、高級查詢模型和語言、活動數據庫。CIS的理論框架和正式方法-知識管理、視圖管理、高級通信協議、工作流、靈活的事務、協商和信息代理。CIS實現技術-CIS的編程語言，分布式異構信息庫中的互操作性問題，多數據庫事務調度和執行，規則庫。集成挑戰-互操作性、多個范例、透明形式、對象和事務模型集成、全局信息（如模式、目錄、存儲庫）、語義互操作性、協商、優化（如查詢、索引等）。CISS的信息建模和推理技術-多視角表示、非演繹推理形式（歸納、類比、基于案例等）、多代理規劃和問題解決。高級CI編程-工作流、事務、信息請求、策略/規則驅動系統、大型編程、多個編程范例。信息工程：信息獲取、分類和檢索技術和工具、信息共享和管理。獨聯體演進-獨聯體設計、開發和維護的概念、工具和技術。重新設計-概念、工具和方法；將遺留和新信息系統重新設計成CIS。業務流程管理系統：架構、概念、技術（例如分析、建模、重新設計和評估以及業務流程）。

The paradigm for the next generation of information systems (ISs) will involve large numbers of ISs distributed over large, complex computer/communication networks. Such ISs will manage or have access to large amounts of information and computing services and will interoperate as required. These support individual or collaborative human work. Communication among component systems will be done using protocols that range from conventional ones to those based on distributed AI. We call such next generation ISs Cooperative Information Systems (CIS).The International Journal of Cooperative Information Systems (IJCIS) addresses the intricacies of cooperative work in the framework of distributed interoperable information systems. It provides a forum for the presentation and dissemination of research covering all aspects of CIS design, requirements, functionality, implementation, deployment, and evolution. IJCIS will publish papers describing original ideas and new results, on topics that include, but are not limited to:CIS Principles - cooperation, intelligence, autonomy.Architectures and communication protocols for CIS - open architectures, blackboard systems, multiagent planning frameworks, speech acts, advanced information services in support of interoperability.Information Agents - models and organisations, application of information agent technology in virtual laboratories, concurrent engineering and other groupware frameworks.Large-Scale Knowledge Bases for CIS-sharing and reuse of worldwide knowledge, knowledge of knowledge structures, trends and applications in this area.Core Technology for CIS - open distributed computing architectures, type systems, object models and advanced transaction models for interoperability, advanced query models and languages, active databases.Theoretical Frameworks and Formal Methods for CIS - knowledge management, view management, high-level communication protocols, workflows, flexible transactions, negotiation and information agents.CIS Implementation Techniques - programming languages for CISs, interoperability issues in distributed heterogeneous information bases, multi-database transaction scheduling and execution, rule bases.Integration Challenges - interoperability, multiple paradigms, forms of transparency, object and transaction model integration, global information (e.g., schemas, directories, repositories), semantic interoperability, negotiation, optimisation (e.g., queries, indexing, ...).Information Modelling and Reasoning techniques for CISs - multiple perspective representations, non-deductive forms of inference (inductive, analogical, case-based, ...), multiagent planning and problem solving.Advanced CIS Programming - workflows, transactions, information requests, policy/rule-driven systems, mega-programming, multiple programming paradigms.Information Engineering for CIS - information acquisition, classification and retrieval techniques and tools, information sharing and management.CIS Evolution - concepts, tools, and techniques for CIS design, development, and maintenance.Re-Engineering - concepts, tools, and methodologies; re-engineering legacy and new information systems into CISs.Business Process Management Systems: Architectures, Concepts, Technology (e.g. analysis, modelling, reengineering and evaluation and business processes).