Influence in MultiAgent Systems
Application to Coalitions
Z. Maamar, P. Labbé,
W. Mansoor, E. Bataineh
KSCO’2002 - Toulouse
Plan
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•
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Overview
Definitions
Analysis
Conclusion
Overview
• Purpose: Influence Framework to
understand and predict the behavior of
software agents.
• Influence:
– Investigates the causes of human modification
(behavior, attitude, belief)
– Two components: who influences and who is
influenced
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• Influence in MASs:
– Goal and Belief levels: knowledge perspective
– Task and Resource levels: organization perspective
GBTR Framework
– The four levels are connected together
• Influence as a cognitive process by which an
agent acquires new knowledge (social learning)
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Definitions – GBTR framework
• Goal influence: agent’s goal-hierarchy is
adapted, after the insertion of a new goal
in this hierarchy
• Belief influence: agent’s belief-repository
is updated, after the insertion of a new
belief in this repository
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• Task influence: agent’s task-repository is
updated, after either the insertion of a
new task in this repository or the
modification of the characteristics of a
specific task of this repository
• Resource influence: agent’s resource
repository is updated. This agent could
either receive additional resources or lose
some of its resources momentarily
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Awareness Module
.a. Locating Agents •
b.
Establishing Relationships with them. •
Examples of relationships could be friendly
.and hostile
.c.
Understand their operations •
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Assessment module
The agent are new or existing •
Investigate the relationship •
Analysis •
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Agent that is influenced
Awareness
module
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Assessment
module
1
a
a
2
3
b
b 4
5
c
c
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Analysis – GBTR framework
• An agent could influence another agent at
goal, belief, task, and resource levels
– 8 combinations are obtained
Influence types
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circle:
G Goal
(+)
(-)
hexagon:
B
Belief
(+)
(-)
square:
R
Resource
(+)
(-)
octagon:
T
Task
(+)
(-)
Goal influence
T
Agent2 works towards achieving G2 goal.
T+1 Agent1 influences
Agent
Agent
Facilitate
agent2
G
1
2
2
Agent2
(+) - Facilitate(new_goal,G2)
Agent1 generates a new goal, filled
circle, for the benefit of agent2.
Agent2
Hinder
Agent2
G2
Agent1
(-) - Hinder(new_goal,G2)
Agent2 carries out the new goal,
dashed circle, for the benefit of
agent1.
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Belief influence
T
Agent2 has B2 belief.
T+1 Agent1
influences
agent2
Agent1
Affirm
Agent2
B2
Agent2
(+) - Affirm(new_belief,B2)
Agent1 generates a new belief, filled
hexagon, for the benefit of agent2.
Agent1
Contradict
Agent2
B2
Agent2
(-) - Contradict(new_belief,B2)
Agent1 generates a new belief,
dashed hexagon, contradicting
agent2’s belief.
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Scenario
Vessel1
Vessel 2
Submarine1
Influence
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Goal influence
Positive influence between vessel1 and •
vessel2: carry_troops_for_vessel2
Negative influence between vessel1 and •
submarine1 :provide_support_to_vessel1
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Belief influence:
Positive influence between vessel1 and •
submarine1: reinforcement of
.submarine1’s beliefs
Negative influence between vessel1 and •
vessel2: contradiction of what vessel2
assumed about submarine1’s
responsibilities.
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Task influence:
Positive influence between vessel1 and vessel2: •
vessel1 has been ordered to transport equipments
on behalf of vessel2.
Negative influence between vessel1 and •
submarine1: submarine1 will fulfill new tasks for
vessel1, such as attacking the enemy float. In fact,
these tasks have not been planned in submarine1’s
initial schedule.
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Resource influence:
Positive influence between vessel1 and •
vessel2: The new tasks that vessel1 will
carry out requires the use of its resources,
such as a crane.
Negative influence between vessel1 and •
submarine1: submarine1 will use its
resources.
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Conclusion
• The GBTR framework
– Knowledge and organization perspectives
– Influence could be either positive or negative
• Coalition as a running scenarios to
illustrate the feasibility of the GBTR
framework
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