AERO: An Outsourced Approach to Exception Handling in Multi-agent Systems

Abstract

In this paper, we propose an outsourced approach to exception handling in agent systems. Our AERO (Agents for Exception Recovery Outsourcing) system includes two types of mobile agents - consultants and specialists. When an agent system calls in AERO to help it with its exception handling, a consultant migrates to the host system and in turn calls in a number of specialists, who also migrate to the host system to handle to the required types of exceptions. The AERO system can service multiple host systems at the same time.

We sketch how the AERO system works to effectively handle the exceptions in an agent system and discuss the value of using an outsourced system with specialists dedicated to addressing each exception type. This work is important because it addresses the problem of how a collection of exception handling agents can work in collaboration to monitor problem-solving agents in agent systems and provides insight into how agent systems can be reliable and continue to operate during exceptional circumstances.