Formalising the contract net as a goal-directed system

Mark d'Inverno; Michael Luck

doi:10.1007/bfb0031847

Formalising the contract net as a goal-directed system

Mark d'Inverno, Michael Luck

Academy of Music

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference proceeding › peer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In response to the problems that have arisen regarding the terminology and concepts of agent-oriented systems, previous work has described a formal framework for understanding agency and autonomy. In this paper we outline the framework and refine it by adding further levels of detail to develop a formal model of the Contract Net Protocol. The model serves to make precise both the operations of nodes in the contract net, and the state of the net at various points during the protocol. In particular, the nature of the dependencies between the nodes in the net is explicated. Finally, we generalise the relationships that can be found in the contract net which are brought out by the formalisation, and introduce more general concepts such as cooperation and engagement.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Agents Breaking Away
Subtitle of host publication	7th European Workshop on Modelling Autonomous Agents in a Multi-Agent World, MAAMAW '96, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, January 22 - 25, 1996. Proceedings
Editors	Walter Van de Velde, John W. Perram
Publisher	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Pages	72-85
Number of pages	14
ISBN (Print)	3540608524, 9783540608523
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/bfb0031847
Publication status	Published - 17 Jan 1996
Event	7th European Workshop on Modelling Autonomous Agents in a Multi-Agent World, MAAMAW 1996 - Einhoven, Netherlands Duration: 22 Jan 1996 → 25 Jan 1996

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Volume	1038
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Name	Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence
ISSN (Print)	2945-9133
ISSN (Electronic)	2945-9141

Name	MAAMAW: European Workshop on Modelling Autonomous Agents in a Multi-Agent World

Conference

Conference	7th European Workshop on Modelling Autonomous Agents in a Multi-Agent World, MAAMAW 1996
Country/Territory	Netherlands
City	Einhoven
Period	22/01/96 → 25/01/96

Access to Document

10.1007/bfb0031847

Cite this

d'Inverno, M., & Luck, M. (1996). Formalising the contract net as a goal-directed system. In W. Van de Velde, & J. W. Perram (Eds.), Agents Breaking Away: 7th European Workshop on Modelling Autonomous Agents in a Multi-Agent World, MAAMAW '96, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, January 22 - 25, 1996. Proceedings (pp. 72-85). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 1038), (Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence), (MAAMAW: European Workshop on Modelling Autonomous Agents in a Multi-Agent World). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/bfb0031847

d'Inverno, Mark ; Luck, Michael. / Formalising the contract net as a goal-directed system. Agents Breaking Away: 7th European Workshop on Modelling Autonomous Agents in a Multi-Agent World, MAAMAW '96, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, January 22 - 25, 1996. Proceedings. editor / Walter Van de Velde ; John W. Perram. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 1996. pp. 72-85 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science). (Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence). (MAAMAW: European Workshop on Modelling Autonomous Agents in a Multi-Agent World).

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abstract = "In response to the problems that have arisen regarding the terminology and concepts of agent-oriented systems, previous work has described a formal framework for understanding agency and autonomy. In this paper we outline the framework and refine it by adding further levels of detail to develop a formal model of the Contract Net Protocol. The model serves to make precise both the operations of nodes in the contract net, and the state of the net at various points during the protocol. In particular, the nature of the dependencies between the nodes in the net is explicated. Finally, we generalise the relationships that can be found in the contract net which are brought out by the formalisation, and introduce more general concepts such as cooperation and engagement.",

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d'Inverno, M & Luck, M 1996, Formalising the contract net as a goal-directed system. in W Van de Velde & JW Perram (eds), Agents Breaking Away: 7th European Workshop on Modelling Autonomous Agents in a Multi-Agent World, MAAMAW '96, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, January 22 - 25, 1996. Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 1038, Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, MAAMAW: European Workshop on Modelling Autonomous Agents in a Multi-Agent World, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, pp. 72-85, 7th European Workshop on Modelling Autonomous Agents in a Multi-Agent World, MAAMAW 1996, Einhoven, Netherlands, 22/01/96. https://doi.org/10.1007/bfb0031847

Formalising the contract net as a goal-directed system. / d'Inverno, Mark; Luck, Michael.
Agents Breaking Away: 7th European Workshop on Modelling Autonomous Agents in a Multi-Agent World, MAAMAW '96, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, January 22 - 25, 1996. Proceedings. ed. / Walter Van de Velde; John W. Perram. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 1996. p. 72-85 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 1038), (Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence), (MAAMAW: European Workshop on Modelling Autonomous Agents in a Multi-Agent World).

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference proceeding › peer-review

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d'Inverno M, Luck M. Formalising the contract net as a goal-directed system. In Van de Velde W, Perram JW, editors, Agents Breaking Away: 7th European Workshop on Modelling Autonomous Agents in a Multi-Agent World, MAAMAW '96, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, January 22 - 25, 1996. Proceedings. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. 1996. p. 72-85. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science). (Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence). (MAAMAW: European Workshop on Modelling Autonomous Agents in a Multi-Agent World). doi: 10.1007/bfb0031847

Formalising the contract net as a goal-directed system

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