This paper introduces a computer supported framework for co-ordinating distributed collaborative design where the players may be geographically and temporally dispersed, and mobile. The framework is based on a multi-agent architecture overlaying CORBA middleware, providing location and migration transparency and facilitating communication between mobile entities. The architecture has been validated by the implementation of a prototype in the configuration design domain, however, it is shown to have general applicability across computer supported design. The implementation process identified a problem of distributed conflict resolution. A deontic logic based formalism is described and we show how this could be incorporated in the framework to facilitate distributed conflict management. 1: IntroductionCo-ordinating the activities of a geographically dispersed design team, while ensuring that all team members have continuous access to design changes, is a complex process [2]. It is made more complex when the team members, and their software tools, are mobile. Architects, for example, may work both from a design studio and from a construction site using lap-top computers. This paper introduces an expert agent architecture built into a multi-agent framework which enables design decisions to be propagated throughout a design team while supporting artificial intelligence techniques such as critiquing, case based reasoning and machine learning.The paper identifies problems inherent in traditional design co-ordination models and presents a simplified view of the design process which facilitates the communication of design decisions. It then discusses the requirements of expert agents to support designers and how such agents can communicate to form a dynamic network. A framework is identified to provide the basis of a system implementing support for co-operative computer supported design in dynamic and mobile teams. The framework was prototyped in the configuration design domain but is applicable to the general computer supported design domain.The implementation is described and a key problem identified: detecting and facilitating distributed conflict resolution between agents. A deontic logic based formalism for conflict management is introduced and illustrated with an example of design conflict. The paper concludes with a comparison of this architecture with similar work. 1.1: Collaborative designAll but the simplest design projects are undertaken by a team of designers and other specialists. Each works on different parts of the design, and works from different perspectives, and towards different goals. Each must assess the impacts of their decisions on others, and notify affected parties timeously, effectively and appropriately.The traditional serial design model cannot effectively deal with these co-ordination issues: the participants may be dispersed, or temporarily unable to be contacted. New models, based on communicating expert agents, which support the work of human experts, have been, and are being, developed to ...

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Software agents representing supply chain partners make it possible to automate supply chain management and particularly can address the challenging problem of automating the process of dynamic supply chain formation. This paper puts forward an extended contract net mechanism for dynamic supply chain formation and applies it to China petroleum supply chain management, which is characterized by a semi-monopolized market, where conventional negotiation protocols are limited because they are based on the assumption of a pure market. The proposed multi-agent negotiation mechanism is algorithmized and validated in two scenarios of dynamic supply chain formation, i.e., semi-monopolized market and emergency, respectively.

The concept of the Virtual Software Corporation (VSC) has recently become a practical reality as a result of advances in communication and distributed technologies. However, there are significant difficulties with the management of the software development process within a VSC. The main problem is the significantly increased communicational complexity of the process model for such developments. The more classic managerial hierarchy is generally replaced by a "flatter" network of commitments. Therefore new solution approaches are required to provide the necessary process support. The purpose of this paper is to present a solution approach which models the process based on deontic logic. The approach has been validated against a case study where it was used to model commitments and inter-human communications within the software development process of a VSC. The use of the formalism is exemplified through a prototype system using a layered multi-agent architecture.

The aim of this paper is to present initial findings in evaluating specific requirements for software process improvement in geographically distributed processes and suggest possible solution approaches. A case study was designed with the purpose of identifiing key issues of successful software development in a geographically distributed environment. The results of the case study indicate that communication and co-ordination of actions is the most important issue in software process improvement in geographically distributed environments. Research is suggesting that a co-ordination tool for distributed development has to account for flexible exception handling and role allocation which can be achieved by capturing commitments for each role. The results of the case study will be built upon by the development of a support tool utilising results from within multi-disciplinary work in managing commitments.