Vedran Podobnik

A self-optimizing mobile network: Auto-tuning the network with firefly-synchronized agents

The reduction of cost and complexity is a key driver in the evolution of mobile networks. This reduction not only applies to the pre-operational state (e.g. the deployment phase of a new network), but to the operational state as well. During the operational state, self-optimization processes can be performed to reduce the operating expenses (OPEX) of telecommunications operators. In this paper, we propose an agent-based mechanism for auto-tuning mobile networks with the aim of achieving energy savings in access networks. Firefly-based synchronization is used for the coordination of mutually dependent software agents located at the operators base stations. Once synchronized, agents can act together to obtain a global goal - i.e. the reduction of the telecommunications operators costs without reducing the quality of the provided services for mobile users. These agents build a self-organized overlay network where neither centralized nor decentralized control is needed and, therefore, is more robust.

The crocodileagent: research for efficient agent-based cross-enterprise processes

The Trading Agent Competition (TAC) is an international forum which promotes high-quality research regarding the trading agent problem One of the TAC competitive scenarios is Supply Chain Management (SCM) where six agents compete by buying components, assembling PCs from these components and selling the manufactured PCs to customers The idea of TAC SCM is the development of agent-based architectures that implement wide-applicable business strategies which efficiently manage cross-enterprise processes In this paper, we analyze the TAC SCM environment and describe the main features of the CrocodileAgent, our entry in the TAC SCM Competition.

An auction-based semantic service discovery model for e-commerce applications

Mediation between buyers (service requesters agents) and sellers (service providers agents) is one of the most difficult problems in real electronic markets In this paper, we propose an economic approach to solving this problem combined with AI (Artificial Intelligence) concepts Firstly, we enable provider agents to dynamically and autonomously advertise semantic descriptions of available services by proposing a new auction model based on Pay-Per-Click advertising auctions We call it the Semantic Pay-Per-Click Agent (SPPCA) auction Requester agents then use two-level filtration of the advertised services to efficiently discover eligible services In the first level of filtration, a semantic-based mechanism for matchmaking between services requested by buyers and those advertised by sellers is applied Services which pass the first level of filtration are then considered on the second level Here information regarding the actual performance of service providers is considered in conjunction with the prices bid by service providers agents in the SPPCA auction A final set of advertised services is then chosen and proposed to the buyer agent as an answer to its request.

Context-Aware Service Provisioning in Next-Generation Networks: An Agent Approach

This article presents an application of a multi-agent system in ubiquitous computing scenarios characteristic of next-generation networks. Next-generation networks will create environments populated with a vast number of consumers, which will possess diverse types of context-aware devices. In such environments, the consumer should be able to access all the available services anytime, from any place, and by using any of its communication-enabled devices. Consequently, next-generation networks will require efficient mechanisms which can match consumers’ demands (requested services) to network-operators’ supplies (available services). The authors propose an agent approach for enabling autonomous coordination between all the entities across the telecom value chain, thus enabling automated context-aware service provisioning for the consumers. Furthermore, the authors hope that the proposed service discovery model will not only be interesting from a scientific point of view, but also amenable to real-world applications.

Software Agents in New Generation Networks: Towards the Automation of Telecom Processes

Today, there is a wide variety of telecom services available provided by a number of competing stakeholders in the telecom environment. Consequently, consumers in such an environment require efficient mechanisms to match their demands (requested services) to supplies (available services). Businesses, on the other hand, aim to achieve efficient allocation of their resources. This chapter introduces a combination of Artificial Intelligence mechanisms and Computational Economics concepts as a means of solving the above mentioned problems. These mechanisms and concepts are implemented in agent-based electronic markets. Electronic markets function as digital intermediaries that create value by bringing consumers and providers together to create transactional immediacy and supply liquidity, by supporting the exchange of demand and supply information, and reducing transaction costs. The efficiency of the created multi-agent system is realized by applying novel discovery and/or negotiation models.

Bio-inspired Clustering and Data Diffusion in Machine Social Networks

At the end of 2010, we are at the effective end of the second phase of research in the field of Social Networks (SNs) and aspects such as Human-to-Human (H2H) interactions have pretty much had their day due to advances in Machine-to-Machine (M2M) interactions. This chapter will provide a useful insight into the differences between those two types of SNs: the human SNs (hSNs) based on H2H interactions and the machine SNs (mSNs) based on M2M interactions. During the last two decades rapid improvements in computing and communication technologies have enabled a proliferation of hSNs and we believe they will induce the formation of mSNs in the next decades. To this end, we will show how to carry out successful SN analyses (e.g. clustering and data diffusion) by connecting ethological approaches to social behaviour in animals (e.g. the study of firefly synchronization) and M2M interactions.

Agent-Based User Personalization Using Context-Aware Semantic Reasoning

The future of mobile telecommunications is aimed at creating a user-centric wireless world which takes into account users preferences, as well as communication context (e.g., network and terminal heterogeneity or user location). In order to enable context-aware personalization of communication services offered by next-generation mobile networks, we propose an agent-based approach in combination with semantic reasoning techniques from the Semantic Web. In particular, we use ontology-based user profiles to create an agent-based context-aware service which supports personalization according to users preferences. An ontology is created which contains knowledge regarding terminal capabilities and user preferences, as well as a software agent which manages user personalization according to the context extracted from the user profile.

COLLABORATIVE URBAN COMPUTING: SERENDIPITOUS COOPERATION BETWEEN USERS IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT

Recent technical advancements in computing devices and communication networks, combined with changes in the way people use information and communication technology (ICT) systems, have transformed the ICT industry. In this article, we present the collaborative urban computing (CUC) paradigm, which supports serendipitous cooperation between a set of users physically located in an urban environment and all sharing a common goal. Advantages and disadvantages of the CUC paradigm are elaborated on a proof-of-concept CUC service, which we call collaborative downloading.

An Analysis of Power Trading Agent Competition 2014

This paper provides insights into performance of competing agents in Power Trading Agent Competition finals held in May 2014. Firstly, the paper gives the description of the Power TAC post-game data set and presents our analysis process. Furthermore, paper discusses the analysis output: indicators about brokers performance in energy retail market, energy wholesale market as well as the balancing process. Results of the analysis identified diverse approaches in the design of competing agents strategies.

Multi-agent system for automation of B2C processes in the future internet

The concept of new generation network (NGN) will define roles and relationships in the future Internet. The fierce competition among players in the Information and Communication (ICT) industry will just catalyze market redefinition processes, requesting from operators to promptly innovate their business models. The consumers lifestyle will also change: individual users will be interested only in services that are intelligent (i.e., personalized and context-aware), dynamic (i.e., innovative and fun) and mobile (i.e., provisioned anytime and anywhere). A number of latest research incentives in the ICT domain are focused on automation and coordination of interactions between individual consumers and Internet service providers (ISPs). The research proposed in this paper aims to pursue similar ideas while creating a multi-agent system for automation of Business-to-Consumer (B2C) processes in the environment of the future Internet.