Cooperative information-gathering: a distributed problem-solving approach

Abstract

Two approaches to the problem of information-gathering, that may be characterised as distributed processing and distributed problem-solving, are contrasted. The former is characteristic of most existing information-gathering systems, and the latter is central to research in multi-agent systems. The features of complex information-carrying environments and the information-gathering task are examined, demonstrating both the utility of viewing information-gathering as distributed problem-solving and difficulties with viewing it as distributed processing. A new approach is proposed to information-gathering based on the distributed problem-solving paradigm and its attendant body of research in multi-agent systems and distributed artificial intelligence. This approach, called cooperative information-gathering, involves concurrent, asynchronous discovery and composition of information spread across a network of information servers. Top-level queries drive the creation of partially elaborated information-gathering plans, resulting in the employment of multiple semi-autonomous, cooperative agents for the purpose of achieving goals and subgoals within those plans. The system as a whole satisfices, trading off solution quality and search cost while respecting user-imposed deadlines. Current work on distributed and agent-based approaches to information-gathering is also surveyed.