An introduction to multiagent systems / Michael Wooldridge.

By:

Wooldridge, Michael J, 1966-

Material type: Text

TextPublication details: Chichester, U.K. : John Wiley & Sons, 2009.Edition: 2nd edDescription: xxii, 461 p. : ill. ; 24 cmISBN:

9780470519462 (pbk.)
0470519460 (pbk.)

Subject(s):

Intelligent agents (Computer software)

DDC classification:

006.3 WOO

Contents:

Intelligent Agents -- Deductive Reasoning Agents -- Practical Reasoning Agents -- Reactive and Hybrid Agents -- Understanding Each Other -- Communicating -- Working Together -- Methodologies -- Applications -- Multiagent Interactions -- Making Group Decisions -- Forming Coalitions -- Allocating Scarce Resources -- Bargaining -- Arguing -- Logical Foundations.

Holdings
Item type	Current library	Call number	Copy number	Status	Date due	Barcode
Standard Loan	Moylish Library Main Collection	006.3 WOO (Browse shelf(Opens below))	1	Available		39002100476374

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The study of multi-agent systems (MAS) focuses on systems in which many intelligent agents interact with each other. These agents are considered to be autonomous entities such as software programs or robots. Their interactions can either be cooperative (for example as in an ant colony) or selfish (as in a free market economy). This book assumes only basic knowledge of algorithms and discrete maths, both of which are taught as standard in the first or second year of computer science degree programmes. A basic knowledge of artificial intelligence would useful to help understand some of the issues, but is not essential.

The book's main aims are:

To introduce the student to the concept of agents and multi-agent systems, and the main applications for which they are appropriate To introduce the main issues surrounding the design of intelligent agents To introduce the main issues surrounding the design of a multi-agent society To introduce a number of typical applications for agent technology

After reading the book the student should understand:

The notion of an agent, how agents are distinct from other software paradigms (e.g. objects) and the characteristics of applications that lend themselves to agent-oriented software The key issues associated with constructing agents capable of intelligent autonomous action and the main approaches taken to developing such agents The key issues in designing societies of agents that can effectively cooperate in order to solve problems, including an understanding of the key types of multi-agent interactions possible in such systems The main application areas of agent-based systems

Includes bibliographical references (p. [425]-451) and index.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

I SETTING THE SCENE.
1 Introduction.
1.1 The Vision Thing
1.2 Some Views of theField
1.3 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
II INTELLIGENT AUTONOMOUS AGENTS.
2 Intelligent Agents
2.1 Intelligent Agents
2.2 Agents and Objects
2.3 Agents and Expert Systems
2.4 Agents as Intentional Systems
2.5 Abstract Architectures for Intelligent Agents
2.6 HowtoTell an Agent What to Do
3 Deductive Reasoning Agents.
3.1 Agents as Theorem Provers
3.2 Agent-Oriented Programming
3.3 ConcurrentMetateM
4 Practical Reasoning Agents.
4.1 Practical Reasoning=Deliberation+Means-Ends Reasoning
4.2 Means-EndsReasoning
4.3 Implementing a Practical Reasoning Agent
4.4 The Procedural Reasoning System
5 Reactive and Hybrid Agents.
5.1 Reactive Agents
5.2 Hybrid Agents
III COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION.
6 Understanding Each Other.
6.1 Ontology Fundamentals
6.2 Ontology Languages
6.3 RDF
6.4 Constructing an Ontology
6.5 Software Tools for Ontologies
7 Communicating.
7.1 Speech Acts
7.2 Agent Communication Languages
8 Working Together.
8.1 Cooperative Distributed Problem Solving
8.2 Task Sharing and Result Sharing
8.3 Result Sharing
8.4 Combining Task and Result Sharing
8.5 Handling Inconsistency
8.6 Coordination
8.7 Multiagent Planning and Synchronization
9 Methodologies.
9.1 When is an Agent-Based Solution Appropriate?
9.2 Agent-Oriented Analysis and Design
9.3 Pitfalls of Agent Development
9.4 Mobile Agents
10 Applications.
10.1 Agents for Work flow and Business Process Management
10.2 Agents for Distributed Sensing
10.3 Agents for Information Retrieval and Management
10.4 Agents for Electronic Commerce
10.5 Agents for Human-Computer Interfaces
10.6 Agents for Virtual Environments
10.7 Agents for Social Simulation
10.8 Agents for X
IV Multiagent Decision Making.
11 Multiagent Interactions.
11.1 Utilities and Preferences
11.2 Setting the Scene
11.3 Solution Concepts and Solution Properties
11.4 Competitive and Zero-Sum Interactions
11.5 The PrisonerÆs Dilemma
11.6 Other Symmetric 2 x 2 Interactions
11.7 Representing Multiagent Scenarios
11.8 Dependence Relations in Multiagent Systems
12 Making Group Decisions.
12.1 Social Welfare Functions and Social Choice Functions
12.2 Voting Procedures
12.3 Desirable Properties for Voting Procedures
12.4 Strategic Manipulation
13 Forming Coalitions.
13.1 Cooperative Games
13.2 Computational and Representational Issues
13.3 Modular Representations
13.4 Representations for Simple Games
13.5 Coalitional Games with Goals
13.6 Coalition Structure Formation
14 Allocating Scarce Resources.
14.1 Classifying Auctions
14.2 Auctions for Single Items
14.3 Combinatorial Auctions
14.4 Auctions in Practice
15 Bargaining.
15.1 Negotiation Parameters
15.2 Bargaining for Resource Division
15.3 Bargaining for Task Allocation
15.4 Bargaining for Resource Allocation
16 Arguing.
16.1 Types of Argument
16.2 Abstract Argumentation
16.3 Deductive Argumentation Systems
16.4 Dialogue Systems
16.5 Implemented Argumentation Systems
17 Logical Foundations.
17.1 Logics for Knowledge and Belief
17.2 Logics for Mental States
17.3 Logics for Cooperation
17.4 Putting Logic to Work
V Coda
A A History Lesson
B Afterword

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Michael Wooldridge is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Liverpool, UK. He obtained his PhD in 1992 for work in the theory of multiagent systems and has, since then, been active in multiagent systems research.