Abstract
Coordination, accounting for the global coherence of system behaviour, is a fundamental aspect of complex multi-agent systems. As such, coordination in multi-agent systems provides a suitable level of abstraction to deal with system organisation and control. However, current coordination approaches in multi-agent systems are not always fully equipped to model and support the global coherence of open computational systems, i.e., multi-agent systems that are situated in complex and dynamic physical environments. We therefore emphasise the critical roles of observation and construction to sustain coordination in open systems. We present the methodological framework Vocs (Visions of open computational systems), exemplified in terms of a naval multi-agent system scenario (scTwosome) and the tools explicitly developed and used in construction and observation of this system, Solace and Discern.
We later return to a more specific characterisation of open computational systems. In the current context, however, the concept should be considered as a complement to service-oriented multi-agent systems with a focus on mechanisms for agent discovery, integration, and interaction.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
D. Alberts, J. Garstka, R. Hayes, and D. Signori. Understanding Information Age Warfare. CCRP Publication Series, 2001.
J. Bardram. Designing for the dynamics of cooperative work activities. In Proceedings of the ACM 1998 conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work, pages 179–188. ACM Press, 1998.
F. Bergenti and A. Ricci. Three approaches in coordination of MAS. In Proceedings of the 2002 ACM Symposium on Applied Computing (SAC’02). ACM Press, 2002. Track on Coordination Models, Languages and Applications.
S. Bussman. Self-organising manifacturing control: An industrial application of agent-technology. In E. Andre and S. Sen, editors, Proceedings pf the 4th IEEE International Conference on Multiagent Systems, pages 87–94, Boston (MA), July 2000. IEEE Press.
G. Cabri, L. Leonardi, and F. Zambonelli. Context-dependency in internet-agent coordination. In A. Omicini, R. Tolksdorf, and F. Zambonelli, editors, Engineering Societies in the Agents World, volume 1972 of LNAI, pages 51–63. Springer-Verlag, Dec. 2000.
P. Ciancarini, A. Omicini, and F. Zambonelli. Multiagent system engineering: the coordination viewpoint. In N. R. Jennings and Y. Lespérance, editors, Intelligent Agents VI — Agent Theories, Architectures, and Languages, volume 1767 of LNAI, pages 250–259. Springer-Verlag, Feb. 2000.
P. Cilliers. Problem with representation. In P. Cilliers, editor, Complexity and Postmodernism: Understanding Complex Systems, pages 58–88. Routledge, 1998.
M. Cortes. A coordination language for building collaborative applications. International Journal of Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), 9(1):5–31, 2000.
S. R. Cost, Y. Labrou, and T. Finin. Coordinating agents using agent communication languages conversations. In Omicini et al. [26], chapter 7, pages 183–196.
U. Dayal, M. Hsu, and L. Rivka. Business process coordination: State of the art, trends and open issues. In M. G. Apers, P. Atzeni, S. Ceri, S. Paraboschi, K. Ramamohanarao, and R. T. Snodgrass, editors, Proceedings of the 27th VLDB Conference, pages 3–13. Morgan Kaufmann, Sept. 2001.
E. H. Durfee. Scaling up agent coordination strategies. IEEE Computer, 34(7):39–46, July 2001.
P. Evans and T. Wurstel. Strategy and the new economics of information. Harward Business Review, pages 71–82, Sept. 1997.
M. Fredriksson and R. Gustavsson. A methodological perspective on engineering of agent societies. In A. Omicini, P. Petta, and R. Tolksdorf, editors, Engineering Societies in the Agents World II, volume 2203 of LNAI, pages 10–24. Springer-Verlag, Dec. 2001. 2nd International Workshop (ESAW’01), Prague, Czech Republic, 7 July 2001, Revised Papers.
M. Fredriksson and R. Gustavsson. Theory and practice of behavior in open computational systems. In R. Trappl, editor, Cybernetics and Systems 2002, Vienna, Austria, 2002. Austrian Society for Cybernetic Studies. 16th European Meeting on Cybernetics and System Research (EMCSR 2002), 2–5 Apr. 2002, Vienna, Austria, Proceedings.
R. Gustavsson and M. Fredriksson. Coordination and control in computational ecosystems: A vision of the future. In Omicini et al. [26], chapter 18, pages 443–469.
B. A. Huberman and T. Hogg. The emergence of computational ecologies. In L. Nadel and D. Stein, editors, Lectures in Complex Systems, pages 185–205. Addison-Wesley, 1993.
N. Jennings. Coordination techniques for distributed artificial intelligence. In G. M. P. O'Hare and N. R. Jennings, editors, Foundations of Distributed Artificial Intelligence, pages 187–210. Wiley, 1996.
M. Klusch and K. Sycara. Brokering and matchmaking for coordination of agent societies: A survey. In Omicini et al. [26], chapter 8, pages 197–224.
Y. Labrou, T. Finin, and Y. Peng. Agent communication languages: The current landscape. IEEE Intelligent Systems, 14(2):45–52, March/April 1999.
D. Li and R. Muntz. Coca: collaborative objects coordination architecture. In Proceedings of the ACM 1998 conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work, pages 179–188. ACM Press, 1998.
M. Mamei, L. Leonardi, M. Mahan, and F. Zambonelli. Motion coordination for ubiquitous agents. In P. Finin and F. Perich, editors, Workshop on Ubiquitous Agents on embedded, wearable, and mobile devices-First International Joint Conference on Autonomous agents and multiagent systems (AAMAS 2002), 2002.
R. Milner. A Calculus of Communicating Systems, volume 92 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Springer-Verlag, 1980.
A. Omicini. Towards a notion of agent coordination context. In D. Marinescu and C. Lee, editors, Process Coordination and Ubiquitous Computing, pages 187–200. CRC Press, 2002.
A. Omicini and S. Ossowski. Objective versus subjective coordination in the engineering of agent systems. LNCS, 2002. In this volume.
A. Omicini and F. Zambonelli. Coordination for Internet application development. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, 2(3):251–269, Sept. 1999. Special Issue: Coordination Mechanisms for Web Agents.
A. Omicini, F. Zambonelli, M. Klusch, and R. Tolksdorf, editors. Coordination of Internet Agents: Models, Technologies, and Applications. Springer-Verlag, March 2001.
G. A. Papadopoulos. Models and technologies for the coordination of Internet agents: A survey. In Omicini et al. [26], chapter 2, pages 25–56.
H. V. D. Parunak, S. Brueckner, and J. Sauter. Digital pheromone mechanisms for coordination of unmanned vehicles. In Proceedings of the First International Joint Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems AAMAS’02, pages 449–450. ACM Press, 2002.
V. D. Parunak. ‘Go To The Ant’: Engineering principles from natural agent systems. Annals of Operations Research, 75:69–101, 1997.
V. D. Parunak, S. Brueckener, J. Sauter, and R. Matthews. Distinguishing environmental properties and agent dynamics: A case study in abstraction and alternate modelling technologies. In A. Omicini, R. Tolksdorf, and F. Zambonelli, editors, Engineering Societies in the Agents World, volume 1972 of LNAI. Springer-Verlag, Dec. 2000.
V. D. Parunak, J. Sauter, and S. Clask. Toward the specification and design of industrial synthetic ecosystems. In M. Singh, A. Rao, and M. Wooldridge, editors, Intelligent Agents IV. Agent Theories, Architectures, and Languages, volume 1365 of LNAI. Springer-Verlag, 1998.
A. Ricci, A. Omicini, and E. Denti. Activity theory as a framework for mas coordination. In P. Petta, R. Tolksdorf, and F. Zambonelli, editors, Engineering Societies in the Agents World III, LNAI. Springer-Verlag, Dec. 2002.
K. Schmidt and L. Bannon. Taking CSCW seriously: Supporting articulation work. International Journal of Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), 1(1):7–40, 1992.
K. Schmidt and C. Simone. Coordination mechanisms: Towards a conceptual foundation of cscw systems design. International Journal of Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), 5(2–3):155–200, 1996.
K. Schmidt and C. Simone. Mind the gap! towards a unified view of CSCW. In The Fourth International Conference on the Design of Cooperative Systems COOP 2000, May 2000.
M. Schumacher. Objective Coordination in Multi-Agent System Engineering-Design and Implementation, volume 2039 of LNAI. Springer-Verlag, Apr. 2001.
M. Singh. Agent communication languages: Rethinking the principles. IEEE Computer, 31(12):40–47, 1998.
D. Tennenhouse. Pro-active computing. Communication of ACM, 43(5):43–50, May 2000.
M. Viroli and A. Omicini. Coordination as a service: Ontological and formal foundation. In A. Brogi and J.-M. Jacquet, editors, Foundations of Coordination Languages and Software Architectures-Papers from FOCLASA’02, volume 68 of Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science. Elsevier Science B. V., 2002.
P. Wegner. Why interaction is more powerful than algorithms. Communication of ACM, 40(5):80–91, May 1997.
P. Wegner. Interactive foundations of computing. Theoretical Computer Science, 192(2), Feb. 1998.
P. Wegner. Toward empirical computer science. The Monist, 82(1), Jan. 1999.
M. P. Wellman. A market-oriented programming environment and its application to distributed multicommodity flow problems. Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research, 1:1–23, 1993.
M. P. Wellman and P. R. Wurman. Market-aware agents for a multiagent world. Robotics and Autonomous Systems, 24:115–125, 1998.
F. Zambonelli, N. R. Jennings, A. Omicini, and M. J. Wooldridge. Agent-oriented software engineering for Internet applications. In Omicini et al. [26], chapter 13, pages 326–346.
F. Zambonelli and V. D. Parunak. Signs of a revolution in computer science and software engineering. In P. Petta, R. Tolksdorf, and F. Zambonelli, editors, Working Notes of the third International Workshop on Engineering Societies in the Agent World (ESAW’ 02), Sept. 2002. Technical Report TR-2002-35, Austrian Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2003 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fredriksson, M., Gustavsson, R., Ricci, A. (2003). Sustainable Coordination. In: Klusch, M., Bergamaschi, S., Edwards, P., Petta, P. (eds) Intelligent Information Agents. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 2586. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-36561-3_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-36561-3_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-00759-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-36561-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive