Adil at Work: Progress So Far

Thursday 23 April 2009

eumas 07 ('revised') paper

Agents have beliefs and desires over single resources, as well as (retractable) commitments to other agents over beliefs, desires and dialogue. Attaining any one of its desired resources achieves the agent's overall goal.
(Request-Response) Information-seeking dialogues are used to communicate beliefs and desires.
(Request-Response) Negotiation dialogues are used to swap single resources. An agent accepts a request to exchange resources if the resource to be received is one that it desires.
The negotiation policy is not complete. The case for reasons/argumentation to accompany the negotiation is put forward.

eumas 08 ('revised') paper / ('modified') implementation

The goal of an agent is to obtain a certain fixed set of ("needed") resources (one at a time).
Negotiation only (i.e. a Request followed by Accept or Refuse). No separate Information-seeking.
A request of an agent is to be given a certain resource by a certain agent, with an (optional) accompanying reason (i.e. "I need the resource and do not have it").
An acceptance has no accompanying reason. An agent accepts a request (to give away a resource) if it has and does not "need" the resource.
A refusal may have an accompanying reason, i.e. "I do not have the resource", "Some other agent has the resource", "I have but need the resource".
Two negotiation policies are compared for "effectiveness" and "completeness" - one in which agents exchange reasons, and one in which they don't. Both policies are complete but providing reasons improves "effectiveness" of an agent achieving its goal if possible or failing if not possible.
(See 'readme' file of 'eumas08modified' implementation for implementation notes.)

aamas 09 ('revised') paper / ('modified') implementation

Each agent has a (/one) named goal. Goals are fulfilled by single resources. A certain goal may be fulfilled by a choice of different resources. A certain resource may fulfil a choice of different goals.
Agents do not necessarily share "plans" (as to which resources fulfil which goals) at the outset. These are communicated (partially, as necessary) during negotiation.
Negotiation only (i.e. a Request followed by Accept or Refuse).
A request of an agent to another is either to be given a certain resource or to swap (single) resources, with (optional) accompanying reasons/arguments (i.e. a mixture of "needsToObtain", "notNeeds", "useful").
An acceptance has no accompanying reason. Agents agree to give away a resource if either they do not "need" it or they receive in return a resource of equal value.
A refusal may have accompanying reasons/arguments (i.e. a mixture of "needsToRetain", "notHas") plus useful additional information (i.e. alternative plans).
Two negotiation policies are compared for "effectiveness" and "completeness" - one in which agents exchange reasons/arguments, and one in which they don't. The policy that makes use of reasons/arguments is demonstrated to be more (but not fully) complete and more effective in identifying solutions. No formal proofs.
(See 'readme' file of 'aamas09modified' implementation for implementation notes.)

argmas 09 (in progress) paper / implementation