A Holonic Multi-Agent Coordination Server

May 2001

Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Florida Artificial Intelligence Research Society Conference (FLAIRS 2001)

Volume

Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Florida Artificial Intelligence Research Society Conference (FLAIRS 2001)

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This paper presents a holonic co-ordination server which is made up of a recursive hierarchy of three different agent types: On the top stands an agent providing matchmaking services and representing the co-ordination server to the outside. It passes incoming requests to a subordinated agent type that is equipped with co-ordination mechanisms such as auctions, negotiations and coalition formation mechanisms. For each incoming request, this agent spawns an instance of a third agent type which executes the protocol of the co-ordination mechanism chosen in the request. The holonic structure of the co-ordination server helps to reduce complexity while allowing a high grade of adaptability and flexibility.