Cooperative distributed problem solving

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

• Multiscale decision making
• Distributed constraint optimization
• Distributed artificial intelligence
• Multi-agent planning

Some relevant books

• Faltings, Boi (2006). "Distributed Constraint Programming". In Rossi, Francesca; van Beek, Peter; Walsh, Toby. Handbook of Constraint Programming. Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-444-52726-4.  A chapter in an edited book.
• Meisels, Amnon (2008). Distributed Search by Constrained Agents. Springer. ISBN 978-1-84800-040-7. 
• Shoham, Yoav; Leyton-Brown, Kevin (2009). Multiagent Systems: Algorithmic, Game-Theoretic, and Logical Foundations. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-89943-7.  See Chapters 1 and 2; downloadable free online.
• Yokoo, Makoto (2001). Distributed constraint satisfaction: Foundations of cooperation in multi-agent systems. Springer. ISBN 978-3-540-67596-9.