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Multiagent systems : a modern approach to distributed artificial intelligence / edited by Gerhard Weiss.

Contributor(s): Weiss, Gerhard, 1962-.
Material type: materialTypeLabelBookPublisher: Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Press, c1999Description: xxiii, 619 p. ; 26 cm. + hbk.ISBN: 0262232030 .Subject(s): Intelligent agents (Computer software) | Distributed artificial intelligenceDDC classification: 006.33
Contents:
Part I: Basic themes -- Intelligent agents / Michael Wooldridge -- Multiagent systems and societies of agents / Michael N. Huhns and Larry M. Stephens -- Distributed problem solving and planning / Edmund H. Durfee -- Search algorithms for agents / Makoto Yokoo and Toru Ishida -- Distributed rational decision making / Tuomas W. Sandholm -- Learning in multiagent systems / Sandip Sen and Gerhard Weiss -- Computational organization theory / Kathleen M. Carley and Les Gasser -- Formal methods in DAI: Logic-based representation and reasoning / Munindar P. Singh, Anand S. Rao and Michael P. Georgeff -- Industrial and practical applications of DAI / H. Van Dyke Parunak -- Part II: Related themes -- Groupware and computer supported cooperative work / Clarence Ellis and Jacques Wainer -- Distributed models for decision support / Jose Cuena and Sascha Ossowski -- Concurrent programming for DAI / Gul A. Agha and Nadeem Jamali -- Distributed control algorithms for AI / Gerard Tel.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This is the first comprehensive introduction to multiagent systems and contemporary distributed artificial intelligence that is suitable as a textbook.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Part I: Basic themes -- Intelligent agents / Michael Wooldridge -- Multiagent systems and societies of agents / Michael N. Huhns and Larry M. Stephens -- Distributed problem solving and planning / Edmund H. Durfee -- Search algorithms for agents / Makoto Yokoo and Toru Ishida -- Distributed rational decision making / Tuomas W. Sandholm -- Learning in multiagent systems / Sandip Sen and Gerhard Weiss -- Computational organization theory / Kathleen M. Carley and Les Gasser -- Formal methods in DAI: Logic-based representation and reasoning / Munindar P. Singh, Anand S. Rao and Michael P. Georgeff -- Industrial and practical applications of DAI / H. Van Dyke Parunak -- Part II: Related themes -- Groupware and computer supported cooperative work / Clarence Ellis and Jacques Wainer -- Distributed models for decision support / Jose Cuena and Sascha Ossowski -- Concurrent programming for DAI / Gul A. Agha and Nadeem Jamali -- Distributed control algorithms for AI / Gerard Tel.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

  • Contributing Authors
  • Preface
  • Prologue
  • Part I Basic Themes
  • 1 Intelligent Agents
  • 1.1 Introduction
  • 1.2 What Are Agents?
  • 1.2.1 Examples of Agents
  • 1.2.2 Intelligent Agents
  • 1.2.3 Agents and Objects
  • 1.2.4 Agents and Expert Systems
  • 1.3 Abstract Architectures for Intelligent Agents
  • 1.3.1 Purely Reactive Agents
  • 1.3.2 Perception
  • 1.3.3 Agents with State
  • 1.4 Concrete Architectures for Intelligent Agents
  • 1.4.1 Logic-Based Architectures
  • 1.4.2 Reactive Architectures
  • 1.4.3 Belief-Desire-Intention Architectures
  • 1.4.4 Layered Architectures
  • 1.5 Agent Programming Languages
  • 1.5.1 Agent-Oriented Programming
  • 1.5.2 Concurrent METATEM
  • 1.6 Conclusions
  • 1.7 Exercises
  • 1.8 References
  • 2 Multiagent Systems and Societies of Agents
  • 2.1 Introduction
  • 2.1.1 Motivations
  • 2.1.2 Characteristics of Multiagent Environments
  • 2.2 Agent Communications
  • 2.2.1 Coordination
  • 2.2.2 Dimensions of Meaning
  • 2.2.3 Message Types
  • 2.2.4 Communication Levels
  • 2.2.5 Speech Acts
  • 2.2.6 Knowledge Query and Manipulation Language (KQML)
  • 2.2.7 Knowledge Interchange Format (KIF)
  • 2.2.8 Ontologies
  • 2.2.9 Other Communication Protocols
  • 2.3 Agent Interaction Protocols
  • 2.3.1 Coordination Protocols
  • 2.3.2 Cooperation Protocols
  • 2.3.3 Contract Net
  • 2.3.4 Blackboard Systems
  • 2.3.5 Negotiation
  • 2.3.6 Multiagent Belief Maintenance
  • 2.3.7 Market Mechanisms
  • 2.4 Societies of Agents
  • 2.5 Conclusions
  • 2.6 Exercises
  • 2.7 References
  • 3 Distributed Problem Solving and Planning
  • 3.1 Introduction
  • 3.2 Example Problems
  • 3.3 Task Sharing
  • 3.3.1 Task Sharing in the Toll Problem
  • 3.3.2 Task Sharing in Heterogeneous Systems
  • 3.3.3 Task Sharing for DSNE
  • 3.3.4 Task Sharing for Interdependent Tasks
  • 3.4 Result Sharing
  • 3.4.1 Functionally Accurate Cooperation
  • 3.4.2 Shared Repositories and Negotiated Search
  • 3.4.3 Distributed Constrained Heuristic Search
  • 3.4.4 Organizational Structuring
  • 3.4.5 Communication Strategies
  • 3.4.6 Task Structures
  • 3.5 Distributed Planning
  • 3.5.1 Centralized Planning for Distributed Plans
  • 3.5.2 Distributed Planning for Centralized Plans
  • 3.5.3 Distributed Planning for Distributed Plans
  • 3.6 Distributed Plan Representations
  • 3.7 Distributed Planning and Execution
  • 3.7.1 Post-Planning Coordination
  • 3.7.2 Pre-Planning Coordination
  • 3.7.3 Interleaved Planning, Coordination, and Execution
  • 3.7.4 Runtime Plan Coordination Without Communication
  • 3.8 Conclusions
  • 3.9 Exercises
  • 3.10 References
  • 4 Search Algorithms for Agents
  • 4.1 Introduction
  • 4.2 Constraint Satisfaction
  • 4.2.1 Definition of a Constraint Satisfaction Problem
  • 4.2.2 Filtering Algorithm
  • 4.2.3 Hyper-Resolution-Based Consistency Algorithm
  • 4.2.4 Asynchronous Backtracking
  • 4.2.5 Asynchronous Weak-Commitment Search
  • 4.3 Path-Finding Problem
  • 4.3.1 Definition of a Path-Finding Problem
  • 4.3.2 Asynchronous Dynamic Programming
  • 4.3.3 Learning Real-Time A*
  • 4.3.4 Real-Time A*
  • 4.3.5 Moving Target Search
  • 4.3.6 Real-Time Bidirectional Search
  • 4.3.7 Real-Time Multiagent Search
  • 4.4 Two-Player Games
  • 4.4.1 Formalization of Two-Player Games
  • 4.4.2 Minimax Procedure
  • 4.4.3 Alpha-Beta Pruning
  • 4.5 Conclusions
  • 4.6 Exercises
  • 4.7 References
  • 5 Distributed Rational Decision Making
  • 5.1 Introduction
  • 5.2 Evaluation Criteria
  • 5.2.1 Social Welfare
  • 5.2.2 Pareto Efficiency
  • 5.2.3 Individual Rationality
  • 5.2.4 Stability
  • 5.2.5 Computational Efficiency
  • 5.2.6 Distribution and Communication Efficiency
  • 5.3 Voting
  • 5.3.1 Truthful Voters
  • 5.3.2 Strategic (Insincere) Voters
  • 5.4 Auctions
  • 5.4.1 Auction Settings
  • 5.4.2 Auction Protocols
  • 5.4.3 Efficiency of the Resulting Allocation
  • 5.4.4 Revenue Equivalence and Non-Equivalence
  • 5.4.5 Bidder Collusion
  • 5.4.6 Lying Auctioneer
  • 5.4.7 Bidders Lying in Non-Private-Value Auctions
  • 5.4.8 Undesirable Private Information Revelation
  • 5.4.9 Roles of Computation in Auctions
  • 5.5 Bargaining
  • 5.5.1 Axiomatic Bargaining Theory
  • 5.5.2 Strategic Bargaining Theory
  • 5.5.3 Computation in Bargaining
  • 5.6 General Equilibrium Market Mechanisms
  • 5.6.1 Properties of General Equilibrium
  • 5.6.2 Distributed Search for a General Equilibrium
  • 5.6.3 Speculative Strategies in Equilibrium Markets
  • 5.7.1 Task Allocation Negotiation
  • 5.7.2 Contingency Contracts and Leveled Commitment Contracts
  • 5.8 Coalition Formation
  • 5.8.1 Coalition Formation Activity 1: Coalition Structure Generation
  • 5.8.2 Coalition Formation Activity 2: Optimization within a Coalition
  • 5.8.3 Coalition Formation Activity 3: Payoff Division
  • 5.9 Conclusions
  • 5.10 Exercises
  • 5.11 References
  • 6 Learning in Multiagent Systems
  • 6.1 Introduction
  • 6.2 A General Characterization
  • 6.2.1 Principal Categories
  • 6.2.2 Differencing Features
  • 6.2.3 The Credit-Assignment Problem
  • 6.3 Learning and Activity Coordination
  • 6.3.1 Reinforcement Learning
  • 6.3.2 Isolated, Concurrent Reinforcement Learners
  • 6.3.3 Interactive Reinforcement Learning of Coordination
  • 6.4 Learning about and from Other Agents
  • 6.4.1 Learning Organizational Roles
  • 6.4.2 Learning in Market Environments
  • 6.4.3 Learning to Exploit an Opponent
  • 6.5 Learning and Communication
  • 6.5.1 Reducing Communication by Learning
  • 6.5.2 Improving Learning by Communication
  • 6.6 Conclusions
  • 6.7 Exercises
  • 6.8 References
  • 7 Computational Organization Theory
  • 7.1 Introduction
  • 7.1.1 What Is an Organization?
  • 7.1.2 What Is Computational Organization Theory?
  • 7.1.3 Why Take a Computational Approach?
  • 7.2 Organizational Concepts Useful in Modeling Organizations
  • 7.2.1 Agent and Agency
  • 7.2.2 Organizational Design
  • 7.2.3 Task
  • 7.2.4 Technology
  • 7.3 Dynamics
  • 7.4 Methodological Issues
  • 7.4.1 Virtual Experiments and Data Collection
  • 7.4.2 Validation and Verification
  • 7.4.3 Computational Frameworks
  • 7.5 Conclusions
  • 7.6 Exercises
  • 7.7 References
  • 8 Formal Methods in DAI: Logic-Based Representation and Reasoning
  • 8.1 Introduction
  • 8.2 Logical Background
  • 8.2.1 Basic Concepts
  • 8.2.2 Propositional and Predicate Logic
  • 8.2.3 Modal Logic
  • 8.2.4 Deontic Logic
  • 8.2.5 Dynamic Logic
  • 8.2.6 Temporal Logic
  • 8.3 Cognitive Primitives
  • 8.3.1 Knowledge and Beliefs
  • 8.3.2 Desires and Goals
  • 8.3.3 Intentions
  • 8.3.4 Commitments
  • 8.3.5 Know-How
  • 8.3.6 Sentential and Hybrid Approaches
  • 8.3.7 Reasoning with Cognitive Concepts
  • 8.4 BDI Implementations
  • 8.4.1 Abstract Architecture
  • 8.4.2 Practical System
  • 8.5 Coordination
  • 8.5.1 Architecture
  • 8.5.2 Specification Language
  • 8.5.3 Common Coordination Relationships
  • 8.6 Communications
  • 8.6.1 Semantics
  • 8.6.2 Ontologies
  • 8.7 Social Primitives
  • 8.7.1 Teams and Organizational Structure
  • 8.7.2 Mutual Beliefs and Joint Intentions
  • 8.7.3 Social Commitments
  • 8.7.4 Group Know-How and Intentions
  • 8.8 Tools and Systems
  • 8.8.1 Direct Implementations
  • 8.8.2 Partial Implementations
  • 8.8.3 Traditional Approaches
  • 8.9 Conclusions
  • 8.10 Exercises
  • References
  • 9 Industrial and Practical Applications of DAI
  • 9.1 Introduction
  • 9.2 Why Use DAI in Industry?
  • 9.3 Overview of the Industrial Life-Cycle
  • 9.4 Where in the Life Cycle Are Agents Used?
  • 9.4.1 Questions that Matter
  • 9.4.2 Agents in Product Design
  • 9.4.3 Agents in Planning and Scheduling
  • 9.4.4 Agents in Real-Time Control
  • 9.5 How Does Industry Constrain the Life Cycle of an Agent-Based System?
  • 9.5.1 Requirements, Positioning, and Specification
  • 9.5.2 Design: the Conceptual Context
  • 9.5.3 Design: the Process
  • 9.5.4 System Implementation
  • 9.5.5 System Operation
  • 9.6 Development Tools
  • 9.7 Conclusions
  • 9.8 Exercises
  • 9.9 References
  • Part II Related Themes
  • 10 Groupware and Computer Supported Cooperative Work
  • 10.1 Introduction
  • 10.1.1 Well-Known Groupware Examples
  • 10.2 Basic Definitions
  • 10.2.1 Groupware
  • 10.2.2 Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)
  • 10.3 Aspects of Groupware
  • 10.3.1 Keepers
  • 10.3.2 Coordinators
  • 10.3.3 Communicators
  • 10.3.4 Team-Agents
  • 10.3.5 Agent Models
  • 10.3.6 An Example of Aspect Analysis of a Groupware
  • 10.4 Multi-Aspect Groupware
  • 10.4.1 Chautauqua -- A Multi-Aspect System
  • 10.5 Social and Group Issues in Designing Groupware Systems
  • 10.6 Supporting Technologies and Theories
  • 10.6.1 Keepers
  • 10.6.2 Coordinators
  • 10.6.3 Communicators
  • 10.6.4 Team-Agents
  • 10.7 Other Taxonomies of Groupware
  • 10.7.1 Space/Time Matrix
  • 10.7.2 Application Area
  • 10.8 Groupware and Internet
  • 10.8.1 Internet as Infrastructure
  • 10.8.2 Internet as Presumed Software
  • 10.9 Conclusions
  • 10.9.1 Incorporating Communicators into Keepers
  • 10.9.2 Incorporating Keepers and Communicators into Coordinators
  • 10.9.3 Future Research on Agents
  • 10.9.4 Future Research on Keepers
  • 10.10 Exercises
  • 10.11 References
  • 11 Distributed Models for Decision Support
  • 11.1 Introduction
  • 11.2 Decision Support Systems
  • 11.2.1 The Decision Support Problem
  • 11.2.2 Knowledge-Based Decision Support
  • 11.2.3 Distributed Decision Support Models
  • 11.3 An Agent Architecture for Distributed DSSs
  • 11.3.1 Information Model
  • 11.3.2 Knowledge Model
  • 11.3.3 Control Model
  • 11.4 Application Case Studies
  • 11.4.1 Environmental Emergency Management
  • 11.4.2 Energy Management
  • 11.4.3 Road Traffic Management
  • 11.5 Conclusions
  • 11.6 Exercises
  • 11.7 References
  • 12 Concurrent Programming for DAI
  • 12.1 Introduction
  • 12.2 Defining Multiagent Systems
  • 12.3 Actors
  • 12.3.1 Semantics of Actors
  • 12.3.2 Equivalence of Actor Systems
  • 12.3.3 Actors and Concurrent Programming
  • 12.4 Representing Agents as Actors
  • 12.4.1 Mobility of Actors
  • 12.4.2 Resource Model
  • 12.5 Agent Ensembles
  • 12.5.1 Customizing Execution Contexts
  • 12.5.2 Interaction Protocols
  • 12.5.3 Coordination
  • 12.5.4 Naming and Groups
  • 12.6 Related Work
  • 12.7 Conclusions
  • 12.8 Exercises
  • 12.9 References
  • 13 Distributed Control Algorithms for AI
  • 13.1 Introduction
  • 13.1.1 Model of Computation
  • 13.1.2 Complexity Measures
  • 13.1.3 Examples of Distributed Architectures in AI
  • 13.2 Graph Exploration
  • 13.2.1 Depth-First Search
  • 13.2.2 Pseudo-Fast Exploration: the Echo Algorithm
  • 13.2.3 Searching for Connectivity Certificates
  • 13.3 Termination Detection
  • 13.3.1 Problem Definition
  • 13.3.2 Tracing Algorithms
  • 13.3.3 Probe Algorithms
  • 13.4 Distributed Arc Consistency and CSP
  • 13.4.1 Constraint Satisfaction and Arc Consistency
  • 13.4.2 The AC4 Algorithm
  • 13.4.3 The Distributed AC4 Algorithm
  • 13.4.4 Termination Detection
  • l3.4.5 Partitioning for Multiprocessor Computers
  • 13.4.6 Distributed Constraint Satisfaction Algorithm
  • 13.5 Distributed Graph Processing
  • 13.5.1 The Problem: Loop Cutset
  • 13.5.2 Distributed Execution of the Algorithm
  • 13.5.3 Complexity and Conclusions
  • 13.6 Conclusions
  • 13.7 Exercises
  • 13.8 References
  • Glossary
  • Subject Index

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Gerhard Weiss is a Research Scientist in the Computer Science Department at the Technical University of Munich.

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