Publication - Cooperative Information Gathering: A Distributed Problem-Solving Approach

Authors:	Oates, T., Nagendra Prasad, M.V., and Lesser, V.
Title:	Cooperative Information Gathering: A Distributed Problem-Solving Approach
Abstract:	Two approaches to the problem of information-gathering, that may be characterized as distributed processing and distributed problem solving, are contrasted. The former is characteristic of most existing information gathering systems, and the latter is central to research in multi-agent systems. The features of complex information-gathering environments and the information-gathering task are examined, demonstrating both the utility of viewing information-gathering as distributed problem solving and difficulties with viewing it as distributed processing. A new approach is proposed to information-gathering based on the distributed problem-solving paradigm and its attendant body of research in multi-agent systems and distributed artificial intelligence. This approach, called cooperative information-gathering, involves concurrent, asynchronous discovery and composition of information spread across a network of information servers. Top-level queries drive the creation of partially elaborated information-gathering plans, resulting in the employment of multiple semi-autonomous cooperative agents for the purpose of achieving goals and subgoals within those plans. The system as a whole satisfices, trading off solution quality and search cost while respecting user imposed deadlines. Current work on distributed and agent-based approaches to information-gathering is also surveyed.
Keywords:	BIG, Distributed Problem Solving, Information Retrieval
Publication:	IEE Proceedings on Software Engineering, Special Issue on Agent-based Systems, Vol: 144, Num: 1, pp. 72 - 88
Publisher:	IEE Proceedings on Software Engineering, Special Issue on Agent-based Systems
Date:	January 1997
Sources:	PDF: /Documents/oates_IEE_97.pdf
Reference:	Oates, T., Nagendra Prasad, M.V., and Lesser, V.. Cooperative Information Gathering: A Distributed Problem-Solving Approach. IEE Proceedings on Software Engineering, Special Issue on Agent-based Systems, Volume 144, Number 1, IEE Proceedings on Software Engineering, Special Issue on Agent-based Systems, pp. 72-88. January 1997.
`bibtex`:	@article{Oates-107, author = "T. Oates and M.V. Nagendra Prasad and V. Lesser", title = "{Cooperative Information Gathering: A Distributed Problem-Solving Approach}", journal = "IEE Proceedings on Software Engineering, Special Issue on Agent-based Systems", volume = "144", number = "1", publisher = "IEE Proceedings on Software Engineering, Special Issue on Agent-based Systems", pages = "72-88", month = "January", year = "1997", url = "http://mas.cs.umass.edu/paper/107", }