COOPERATING SOFTWARE AGENTS UNDER UNCERTAINLY SITUATIONS

Abstract

In this paper, we formulate and analyze the problem of cooperation multiple software agents under uncertainty. We show that agents cooperate in order to encounter uncertainty when acting alone by themselves, their benefits would not be as attractive, and hence cooperate to share the risk. As a specific example, we consider the model of obtaining the pieces of information from a priced Electronic Library by sharing cost. We propose the negotiation mechanism for sharing cost among agents. With that mechanism, they can learn and obtain the unbiased and fare cost distribution rule. We futher examine the design of the incentive compatible cooperative protocol for multiple software agents.