Decentralized coordination of resource usage in multi-agent systems
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- a network;
a first group of agents operative on the network to coordinate resource utilization by multiple agents, wherein the first group of agents coordinate utilization of multiple resources, wherein each resource of the multiple resources can be utilized in a similar manner; and
a second group of agents operative on the network to coordinate resource utilization by multiple agents;
wherein the resource is of limited availability.
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Abstract
Systems and methods operable on a network to coordinate resource utilization amongst agents in a multi-agent systems in a decentralized manner. In one embodiment, this includes interconnected agents that circulate coordination keys amongst coordination group members. The coordination key includes information defining the coordination group, resources coordinated by group members, and information about scheduled resource utilization. In some embodiments, each agent in a coordination group determines its local schedule of resource utilization based on information in the coordination key to achieve its local goals while coordinating with other agents to achieve coordination group goals.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a network;
a first group of agents operative on the network to coordinate resource utilization by multiple agents, wherein the first group of agents coordinate utilization of multiple resources, wherein each resource of the multiple resources can be utilized in a similar manner; and
a second group of agents operative on the network to coordinate resource utilization by multiple agents;
wherein the resource is of limited availability. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system to coordinate resource utilization by an agent in a multi-agent environment, the system comprising:
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a network interface;
a memory;
a processor;
software stored in the memory and operable on the processor to cause the system to;
communicate with other agents over the network interface to coordinate resource utilization;
store a local schedule of the agent'"'"'s scheduled resource utilization in the memory;
receive a coordination key from another agent, wherein the coordination key includes;
a member representation identifying a coordination group of agents that coordinate resource utilization, a resource representation identifying one or more resources, a primary schedule of resource utilization, and a secondary schedule of resource utilization;
resolve conflicts between the local schedule and the primary and the secondary schedules, wherein resolving conflicts includes modifying the local schedule and modifying the primary and the secondary schedules, further wherein conflict resolution decisions are made as a function of a cumulative quality value associated with resources scheduled to be utilized; and
forward the coordination key to another agent identified in the member representation over the network interface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method comprising:
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receiving a coordination key from a member agent of a coordination group, wherein the coordination key specifies a period when resources are to be utilized by coordination group members and a deadline by which the coordination group members must release the resources to be utilized by other coordination group members;
scheduling resource utilization and resolving schedule conflicts in a schedule of the coordination key as a function of a quality value associated with each resource; and
forwarding the coordination key to another coordination group member. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification