From DPS to MAS to ...: continuing the trends

ABSTRACT

The most important and interesting of the computing challenges we are facing are those that involve the problems and opportunities afforded by massive decentralization and disintermediation. The problems and opportunities arise in domains where controlled action is necessary, but centralized control is infeasible. These are the traditional domains of distributed problem solving and multiagent systems, and they include information systems for healthcare, commerce, energy distribution, and traffic control. However, the current incarnations of these domains are scaled well beyond anything envisioned originally. Nevertheless, traditional techniques derived from artificial intelligence are still mostly appropriate. Specifically, representation, reasoning, learning, planning, and situated semantics---when distributed computationally and extended to multiple loci of intelligence---will all be part of potential solutions. They will affect not only the ways systems will be implemented and executed in the future, but also the ways they will be designed, developed, and deployed. This paper focuses on the domains and their challenges. It describes the trends that are observable in our research technologies and shows how they can be used to confront the challenges. It is hoped that new avenues of research will be revealed from following the trends.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.2 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
        I.2.11 Distributed Artificial Intelligence
            Subjects: Coherence and coordination

Additional Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.2 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
        I.2.11 Distributed Artificial Intelligence
            Subjects: Multiagent systems

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Management, Reliability

Keywords:
MAS application description, cross-cutting focus, distributed and social system inspiration