CONTRIBUTIONS TO MULTI-AGENT SYSTEMS IMPLEMENTATION FOR PROJECT SCHEDULING

Increasing project complexity makes scheduling problems more difficult to solve and requires more versatile algorithms. Two different approaches for the project scheduling optimization could be considered: TCPSP (Time-Constrained Project Scheduling), and RCPSP (Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling). In this paper we study thepossibility to apply Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) for these scheduling problems regarding different fitness functions. Wesearch for strengths and weaknesses of MAS as a prerequisite study for a further implementation of the TCSP on a specific MAS platform.multi-agent systems, scheduling, project management, planning

Negotiating for Goods and Services

Can a negotiation protocol be both fair and “envy-free” when more than two agents are involved? The authors consider how envy-free apportioning is more difficult than fair apportioning, but both can help to manage critical resources. They discuss an envy-free protocol and agent-based Web auctions

An agent-based approach to group decision simulation using argumentation

Group decision making simulation allows for the creation of virtual group decision scenarios. The use of a group decision simulator enhances user competences in this area, to test different argumentation strategies and to validate “what if” useful real world scenarios. In this paper, it is proposed a multiagent model to simulate group decision making tasks. Agents are designed with emotional properties, reason with incomplete information and use persuasive argumentation to convince the other group elements about the best alternative choice.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - ArgEmotionAgents Project (POSI / EIA / 56259 / 2004)

Three Decision-making Mechanisms to facilitate Negotiation of Service Level Agreements for Web Service Compositions

The negotiation of Service Level Agreements for composite web services is a very complex process. It involves the coordination of the negotiation process so that the end-to-end QoS requirements of the user request are satisfied while ensuring that the atomic QoS requirements are also simultaneously satisfied. This paper summarizes three decision-making mechanisms which support the process of Service Level Agreement negotiation for composite web services. The mechanisms include: the decomposition of the overall user preferences into the preferences of individual negotiation agents representing each atomic services within the composition; the selection of the prospective negotiation partners for the actual interaction from a list of potential service providers and finally the negotiation of Service Level Agreement with the selected provider agents while ensuring that the end-to-end QoS is satisfied

Exploiting Asynchrony in Multi-agent Con-sensus to Change the Agreement Point

Reaching agreement by consensus is fundamental to the operation of distributed systems, such as sensor networks, social networks or multi-robot networks. In real systems, the resource limitations available to individual agents and communication delays typically result in asynchronous control models of discreet time for consensus. In this paper, we model the problem where a set of agents arrive at a consensus on the value of a variable of interest, being guided by one of them

Development of a Fuzzy-based Multi-agent System for E-commerce Settings

AbstractIn this paper we present our experience in developing a fuzzy-logic based multi-agent e-commerce system capable of achieving a mutually beneficial deal for the seller and buyer using a negotiation process. We use fuzzy logic to assist users to express their preferences about a product in fuzzy terms such as low, medium and high. Our system evaluates offers based on a fuzzy utility function and feeds utility scores to a fuzzy inference system which then computes its next counter offer. Our paper presents issues involved in the development of a multi-agent system for e-commerce settings using the JADE platform - a modern agent development environment. In this paper our focus is on implementing agents of different types/roles engaged in activities usually encountered with buying and selling in an e-commerce environment. Our concluding remarks and future research are presented