Mihnea Scafes

Dynamic Process Integration Framework: Toward Efficient Information Processing in Complex Distributed Systems

The Dynamic Process Integration Framework (DPIF) supports efficient creation of distributed systems for collaborative reasoning, which is relevant for contemporary problems, such as situation assessment, prediction, planning and evaluation of alternatives in a decision making process. In particular, the DPIF is a multi agent systems approach supporting (i) a systematic encapsulation of heterogeneous processes and (ii) negotiation-based self configuration mechanisms which automate creation of meaningful work flows implementing complex collaborative reasoning processes.

Design and Implementation of a Service Negotiation Framework for Collaborative Disaster Management Applications

We present the design and implementation of a generic framework for cooperative multi-issue one-to-many negotiations for optimal service provisioning in collaborative disaster management information systems. The framework allows us to define negotiation protocols, negotiation subjects, properties of negotiation subject issues, deal spaces, and utility functions of participant agents. This framework was integrated into a service oriented architecture for complex collaborative processing in distributed information systems.

Conceptual Framework for Design of Service Negotiation in Disaster Management Applications

Interactions between stakeholders providing their services in disaster management might involve negotiations for optimal selection of service providers. In this paper we propose a conceptual framework for designing cooperative multi-issue one-to-many service negotiations. The framework allows us to define: negotiation protocols, negotiation subject, properties of negotiation subject issues, deal spaces, and utility functions of participant agents. We also consider a simple example of how this framework can be instantiated to particular negotiation in a disaster management information system.

Using Negotiation for Dynamic Composition of Services in Multi-organizational Environmental Management

This paper discusses an efficient solution to contemporary situation assessment problems found in environmental management applications. The targeted problems are inherently complex and require processing of large quantities of heterogeneous information by using rich domain knowledge dispersed through multiple organizations. We assume a collaborative solution based on the Dynamic Process Integration Framework, which supports systematic encapsulation of heterogeneous processing services, including human experts. The encapsulation allows dynamic composition of heterogeneous processing services using advanced self-configuration mechanisms for optimal selection of service providers. Self-configuration is based on a framework for development of cooperative multi-issue one-to-many service negotiations. The framework allows the definition of: negotiation protocols, negotiation subjects composed of multiple negotiation issues, properties of negotiation issues, deal spaces, and utility functions of participant stakeholders. We show how this framework can be used for dynamic composition of workflows spanning multiple organizations in a disaster management information system.

Managing Information and Time Flow in an Agent-Based E-Commerce System

Recently, we have proposed a comprehensive agent-based e-commerce system. While UML formalized, it lacked details how basic functions - e.g. user request to purchase a given product - are to be implemented. Furthermore, the airline ticket reservation model used in the system involves time management issues that have not been addressed. The aim of the paper is to discuss the way in which the information flow and data transformations involved in it are to be implemented; assuming that information about products is to be ontologically represented. Furthermore, a simple way in which time information can be successfully managed to support the proposed product reservation approach will be discussed

One-to-Many Monotonic Concession Negotiation Protocol

In this paper we propose a generalization of the classic monotonic concession protocol for agent negotiation, originally proposed for two agents, to one-to-many negotiation. This assumes generalization of agreement formation and concession operations from two-agents case to one-to-many case. Our approach is inspired by a recent generalization of the two-agent case to multiple agents. We perform a theoretical analysis of some properties of the proposed one-to-many monotonic concession negotiation protocol and we also discuss possible negotiation strategies inspired by Zeuthens strategy for the two-agents case.

Dynamic selection of negotiation protocol in multi-agent systems for disaster management

Collaboration between human experts during distributed problem solving for disaster management requires advanced selfconfiguration mechanisms for selection of potentially good service providers. Self-configuration is based on a framework for development of cooperative multi-issue one-to-many service negotiations. The framework allows the definition of: negotiation protocols, negotiation subjects composed of multiple negotiation issues, properties of negotiation issues, and utility functions of participant stakeholders. We show how this framework can be applied for service contracting in a disaster management information system. We provide initial experimental results concerning the effect of dynamic selection of negotiation protocol onto the quality of the negotiation outcome and the communication complexity of negotiation interactions.

A Process algebraic framework for service coordination

We propose a formal framework based on finite state process algebra for modeling service coordination in agent systems. The model is inspired by WS-coordination specification. Several participant agents can coordinate their actions towards reaching a semantically consistent outcome in a distributed activity. The model defines coordinator and participant agents and their generic interaction protocols and allows integration of application specific protocols by means of protocol handlers. The approach is demonstrated by a sample model showing how coordination is achieved between a set of agents involved in contracting activities.

Distributed Goal-Oriented Reasoning Engine for Multi-agent Systems: Initial Implementation

This paper describes the sample implementation of a distributed goaloriented reasoning engine formulti-agent systems. The paper summarizes part of the design and programming issues that we addressed for providing the initial prototype with customization and self-configuration facilities.

Design Considerations for a Negotiation Component in a Model E-commerce Agent System

In our previous paper we have established that to develop an extensible agent-based e-commerce system it is necessary to logically separate the negotiation process from other parts of the system. This paper deals with the design of the negotiation box - the component that actually runs the negotiation processes. Furthermore, interaction of the negotiation box with the rest of the system is addressed