cooperative distributed problem solving

{{technical|date=September 2011}}

In computing cooperative distributed problem solving is a network of semi-autonomous processing nodes working together to solve a problem, typically in a multi-agent system. That is concerned with the investigation of problem subdivision, sub-problem distribution, results synthesis, optimisation of problem solver coherence and co-ordination. It is closely related to distributed constraint programming and distributed constraint optimization; see the links below.

Aspects of CDPS

  • Neither global control or global data storage – no individual CDPS problem solver (agent) has sufficient information to solve the entire problem.
  • Control and data are distributed
  • Communication is slower than computation, therefore:
  • Loose coupling between problem solvers
  • Efficient protocols (not too much communication overhead)
  • problems should be modular, coarse grained
  • Any unique node is a potential bottleneck
  • Organised behaviour is hard to guarantee since no one node has the complete picture

See also

Some relevant books

  • {{cite book |last=Faltings |first=Boi |editor1-last=Rossi |editor1-first=Francesca |editor2-last=van Beek |editor2-first=Peter |editor3-last=Walsh |editor3-first=Toby |title=Handbook of Constraint Programming |year=2006 |publisher=Elsevier |url=http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/708863/description |isbn=978-0-444-52726-4 |chapter=Distributed Constraint Programming |access-date=2009-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004035038/http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/708863/description |archive-date=2012-10-04 |url-status=dead }} A chapter in an edited book.
  • {{cite book | last1=Meisels | first1=Amnon | title=Distributed Search by Constrained Agents | publisher = Springer | isbn=978-1-84800-040-7 | year=2008}}
  • {{cite book | last1=Shoham | first1=Yoav | last2=Leyton-Brown | first2=Kevin | title=Multiagent Systems: Algorithmic, Game-Theoretic, and Logical Foundations | publisher=Cambridge University Press | isbn=978-0-521-89943-7 | url=http://www.masfoundations.org | year=2009 | location=New York}} See Chapters 1 and 2; [http://www.masfoundations.org/download.html downloadable free online].
  • {{cite book | last1=Yokoo | first1=Makoto | title=Distributed constraint satisfaction: Foundations of cooperation in multi-agent systems | publisher = Springer | isbn=978-3-540-67596-9 | year=2001}}

Category:Applications of distributed computing

Category:Problem solving

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