Editing Cooperative distributed problem solving

{{technical|date=September 2011}}
In computing '''cooperative distributed problem solving''' is a [[Wiktionary:Network|network]] of semi-autonomous processing nodes working together [[problem solving|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==
* {{cite book |last=Faltings |first=Boi |editor1-last=Rossi |editor1-first=Francesca |editor2-last=van Beek |editor2-first=Peter |editor3-last=Walsh |editor3-first=Toby |title=Handbook of Constraint Programming |year=2006 |publisher=[[Elsevier]] |url=http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/708863/description |isbn=978-0-444-52726-4 |chapter=Distributed Constraint Programming |access-date=2009-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004035038/http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/708863/description |archive-date=2012-10-04 |url-status=dead }} A chapter in an edited book.
* {{cite book | last1=Meisels | first1=Amnon | title=Distributed Search by Constrained Agents | publisher = [[Springer Science+Business Media|Springer]] | isbn=978-1-84800-040-7 | year=2008}}
* {{cite book | last1=Shoham | first1=Yoav | last2=Leyton-Brown | first2=Kevin | title=Multiagent Systems: Algorithmic, Game-Theoretic, and Logical Foundations | publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] | isbn=978-0-521-89943-7 | url=http://www.masfoundations.org | year=2009 | location=New York}} See Chapters 1 and 2; [http://www.masfoundations.org/download.html downloadable free online].
* {{cite book | last1=Yokoo | first1=Makoto | title=Distributed constraint satisfaction: Foundations of cooperation in multi-agent systems | publisher = [[Springer Science+Business Media|Springer]] | isbn=978-3-540-67596-9 | year=2001}}

[[Category:Applications of distributed computing]]
[[Category:Problem solving]]


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