Just-In-Time Information Sharing Architectures in Multiagent Systems

摘要

ACORN (Agent-based Community Oriented Routing Network) is a distributed multi-agent architecture for the search, distribution and management of information across networks. ACORN utilises the concept of 'information as agent' together with an application of Stanley Milgram's Small World Problem (the idea of the Six Degrees of Separation) in order to route individual items of information around a network of people and agents. This paper describes additions made to the ACORN architecture and the implementation. A directory server that facilitates real-time communication between a client and corresponding agent is implemented. This server allows for instant feedback and modification to the agent by the client. The concept of an anonymous service provider is introduced to allow clients to generate anonymous agents that cannot be traced back to the original creator of the agent. This service is vital for maintaining some privacy aspects of the user. ACORN consists of a set of information-sharing locations referred to as Cafes. A dynamic cafe clustering method is developed. Using the proposed clustering method, cafes are dynamically created / destroyed to most accurately reflect the collective interests of the given members of said cafe. The performance evaluation of the proposed structure for the cafe using a testbed of multiple virtual users shows that the addition of multi-cafe component to ACORN's architecture improves its information sharing efficiency and leads to significant reduction in unnecessary mingling. Lastly, the concept of a fat and thin agent is introduced. A fat/thin agent architecture allows for minimizing network traffic as agents traverse the network in search of or distribution of knowledge.