Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Ag
1
n
Ag
1
2
Ag
1
1
Ag
2
m
Ag
2
2
Ag
2
1
Ag
0
MAX
MIN
Fig. 4.2
Schema presenting the node's structure of the graph which constitutes the environment of
agents
•
types of agents operating in the system,
•
relationships between the agents and the environment,
•
scenarios of agents' action.
While specifying the types of acting agents and defining their functions, it is
necessary to carefully consider the structure of a single node which has the following
form (Fig.
4.2
):
•
The node includes a resource which is to be the subject of the operation of the
system.
•
The node includes different kinds of agents organized in the appropriate lines
(queues). The agents arriving at the node have to realize their algorithm, and to
this purpose they are processed, in the same way as the tasks, through the processor
of the node they wait for in the line. Each type of agents has a separate line in
which it waits to get into the processor.
•
Each node is managed by the appropriate module which is presented as a special,
distinguished agent. Only one instance of the agent is placed in each node and it
is not able to relocate between the nodes.
In this version of the system the agents of the following types act (Fig.
4.3
):
Agent of type
“zero”
(
A
g
0
). In each node there is only one instance of this agent
which is not able to travel between the nodes. It is permanently tied down to a
given node which is referred to as the home node of that agent
A
g
0
. It is generated
at the moment the system is created and operates till the end of its existence. The
agent
A
g
0
is responsible for keeping in its home node a limited quantity of the
resource, which is done with the use of different types of agents.
