Contextual and Possibilistic Reasoning for Coalition Formation

In multiagent systems, agents often have to rely on other agents to reach their goals, for example when they lack a needed resource or do not have the capability to perform a required action. Agents therefore need to cooperate. Then, some of the questions raised are: Which agent(s) to cooperate with? What are the potential coalitions in which agents can achieve their goals? As the number of possibilities is potentially quite large, how to automate the process? And then, how to select the most appropriate coalition, taking into account the uncertainty in the agents' abilities to carry out certain tasks? In this article, we address the question of how to find and evaluate coalitions among agents in multiagent systems using MCS tools, while taking into consideration the uncertainty around the agents' actions. Our methodology is the following: We first compute the solution space for the formation of coalitions using a contextual reasoning approach. Second, we model agents as contexts in Multi-Context Systems (MCS), and dependence relations among agents seeking to achieve their goals, as bridge rules. Third, we systematically compute all potential coalitions using algorithms for MCS equilibria, and given a set of functional and non-functional requirements, we propose ways to select the best solutions. Finally, in order to handle the uncertainty in the agents' actions, we extend our approach with features of possibilistic reasoning. We illustrate our approach with an example from robotics

A Conviviality Measure for Early Requirement Phase

In this paper, we consider the design of convivial multi-agent systems. Conviviality has recently been proposed as a social concept to develop multi-agent systems. In this paper we introduce temporal dependence networks to model the evolution of dependence networks and conviviality over time, we introduce epistemic dependence networks to combine the viewpoints of stakeholders, and we introduce normative dependence networks to model the transformation of social dependencies by hiding power relations and social structures to facilitate social interactions. We show how to use these visual languages in design, and we illustrate the design method using an example on virtual children adoptions

Combining Norms, Roles, Dependence and Argumentation in Agreement Technologies

A major challenge for Agreement Technologies is the combination of existing technologies and rea- soning methods. In this paper we focus on the three core layers of the Agreement Technologies tower, called Norms, Organization and Argumentation. We present a framework for arguing about agreements based on norms, roles and dependence, together with a case study from the sharing economy

Norm Negotiation in Online Multi-Player Games

In this paper, we introduce an agent communication protocol and speech acts for norm negotiation. The protocol creates individual or contractual obligations to fulfill goals of the agents based on the so-called social delegation cycle. First, agents communicate their individual goals and powers. Second, they propose social goals which can be accepted or rejected by other agents. Third, they propose obligations and sanctions to achieve the social goal, which can again be accepted or rejected. Finally, the agents accept the new norm by indicating which of their communicated individual goals the norm achieves. The semantics of the speech acts is based on a commitment to public mental attitudes. The norm negotiation model is illustrated by an example of norm negotiation in multi-player online gaming

New tools for conviviality. Masks, norms, ontology, requirements and measures. Bridging the conviviality gap between policy and informatics

The notion of conviviality has an intuitive meaning for human society, which is to feel welcome in a community and at ease with its members. We believe it also has particular significance for the design of artificial social systems. Traditionally conviviality has been shown to be useful in human interactions, thus the abundance of artificial social systems is likely to benefit from its application. In this thesis, we explore the possibility of developing the concept of conviviality in artificial social systems in depth. We provide a number of tools to help designers of artificial social systems to include conviviality at the onset of their design. First, we identify what we believe to constitute a promising field of research. Second, we abstract the notion of conviviality. Starting from the philosophical notion proposed by Illich, “individual freedom realized in personal interdependence”. Using Taylor’s intuition about a conviviality mask, we advance a formalization in terms of interdependence of agents and their goals, and the social norms that determine that interdependence. Third, we operationalize conviviality for the development of artificial social systems. We establish correspondence between software engineering and social science domains. We formalize the interdependence between members of a group with dependence networks, and use the stakeholder-agent concept to pro- vide individual agents’ points of view. Fourth, we propose a way to elicit conviviality requirements during the early phase of the development of artificial social systems, using the Tropos agent methodology. Finally, we provide a glimpse of the type of conviviality properties that can be measured in artificial social systems, and thus define the convivial quality of the system. Throughout this thesis we illustrate our arguments with two running examples, one from Second Life, the other from the city of Luxembourg

Designing Convivial Digital Cities: A Social Intelligence Design Approach

Conviviality is a mechanism to reinforce social cohesion and a tool to reduce mis-coordination between individuals, groups and institutions in web communities, for example in digital cities. We use a two-fold definition of conviviality as a condition for social interactions and an instrument for the internal regulation of social systems. In this paper we discuss the use of social intelligence design to model conviviality for digital cities, by first contrasting commercial with public digital cities, ergonomics with intelligent agents and then, social norms for conviviality with legal and institutional norms in digital cities. We show the role of the distinction among various kinds of use of conviviality, the positive aspects of conviviality and the negative aspects that emergent when conviviality becomes the instrument of power relations or in the absence of conviviality

A critical discussion on the use of the notion of conviviality for digital cities

Conviviality is usually considered a positive concept however, as it becomes an instrument at the service of power relations, a darker side emerges. In this survey paper we raise the question: Which definition of conviviality can be used and operationalized for digital cities? We propose a two-fold definition of conviviality as (1) a condition for social interactions and (2) an instrument for the internal regulation of social systems. Furthermore, for digital cities, we propose to use conviviality as a mechanism to reinforce social cohesion and a tool to reduce mis-coordination between individuals, groups and institutions