Multi-agent system for network resource management

Abstract

This paper describes the design of a new type of management system for ATM networks that uses concepts from the multi-agent systems paradigm. The intelligent multi-agent system has been applied to improve upon conventional ATM connection admission procedures, by using the co-operative planning abilities that the agent paradigm allows. The introduction of cooperative abilities leads to interesting enhancements in terms of allowing more negotiable resource allocation management procedures. The paper describes the agent architecture that the IMPACT project has developed with an emphasis on the resource agent strategies. The authors will describe the multi-agent software system that has been developed for the network resource management scenario. Finally, we will describe the implementation of the agent approaches on the Swiss National Host ATM test bed.