Multi-agent knowledge logistics system "KSNet": Implementation and case study for coalition operations

Abstract

A research carried out in the framework of the knowledge logistics lies in the base of the paper. As a result of the research an approach addressing the knowledge logistics problem was developed. The approach considers the problem as a problem of configuring a knowledge source network. The network is assumed to consist of distributed heterogeneous knowledge sources. An implementation of the approach has been put into practice through its realization in the system "KSNet". Distribution and heterogeneity of the knowledge sources gives a distributed and scalable character to the problem of the network configuring. Such nature of the problem causes for the system to have a multi-agent architecture. The paper presents a prototype of the developed multi-agent community implementation in the system "KSNet" and a constraint-based protocol designed for the agents' negotiation. Application of the community to coalition-based operations support and the protocol is illustrated via a case study based on the Binni scenario.