Agents for process coherence in virtual enterprises

SoCom # 1 "on time" Abstract SoCom # 2 "cheap" Buyer Seller Abstract SoCom # 3 Buyer Seller SoCom Manager Hoosier Inc. Register me as buyer and seller Register me as buyer and seller Play Seller in AbstractSoCom #1? Yes Valvano & Co. Hot Air Bros. 8 9 Concrete SoCom created 4 6 7 "high quality" = Roles = Agents Directory Agent_id Role derived 1 Figure 2. Instantiation of a concrete SoCom 68 March 1999/Vol. 42, No. 3 COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM Adopt role Need to initiate Ask SoCom manager Participate No No No No No No No Ye s Yes Ye s Yes Yes Yes Ye s Register SoCom manager suggests a socom Request to create SoCom Process request Stop Stop (undefined) Stop (Failure) Instantiate and announce Receipt of a request Request to register Condition evaluation OK? Find candidates Ask candidates All say yes? Agents decision making SoCom manager's decision making Because our agents are autonomous, we must e...