[jade-develop] Using ContractNetInitiator withing ContractNetResponder (behaviours)

Caire Giovanni

2014-08-09 22:34:17 UTC

Hi,

What you should do is to register the contractNetInitiator_to_Agent_C in the handleAcceptProposal state of the ContractNetResponder (method registerHandleAcceptProposal()) used by agent B.
Look at the BrokerAgent example included in the Jade examples distribution (examples.protocols package) for an example. In that case an AchieveREInitiator is registered in the prepareResultNotification state, but the technique is exactly the same.

Bye,

Giovanni

Da: jade-develop [mailto:jade-develop-bounces at avalon.tilab.com] Per conto di Claassen, M, Mnr <15490289 at sun.ac.za>
Inviato: lunedÃ¬ 4 agosto 2014 02:32
A: jade-develop at avalon.tilab.com
Oggetto: [jade-develop] Using ContractNetInitiator withing ContractNetResponder (behaviours)

Hello All,

I have browsed through several threads on the website but could not solve my problem:

I have three types of agents in my system:

1. Product Agent (Agent A)
2. Task Agent (Agent B)
3. Operational Agent (Agent C)

I use the Contract Net Protocol for communication by implementing new instances of ContractNetInitiator & ContractNetResponder classes withing behaviours.

The function of my Program:
Agent A negotiates with a Agent B for a service. If the Agent A accepts the service, then Agent B needs to negotiate with Agent C to perform a service. Once Agent C has completed the service/action, it must inform Agent B. Once Agent B has received the inform, it must then and only then send an inform to Agent A.

The problem:

I put add(ContractNetInitiator_AgentB_To_AgentC(.....)) in the handleAcceptProposal() function of the ContractNetResponder_AgentB_To_AgentA of AgentB (before it creates a reply (inform) to Agent A).

I understand perfectly that behaviours are scheduled and that each agent runs in its own thread.

Flow Diagram of what occurs:

Agent A: Agent B Agent C

ContractNetInitiator_AgentA_To_AgentB ContractNetResponder_AgentB_To_AgentA ContractNetResponder_AgentC_To_AgentB

prepareCfp() handleCfp() handleCfp()

handleAllResponses() handleAcceptProposal() handleAcceptProposal()
add(ContractNetInitiator_AgentB_To_AgentC())
handleInform()
handleRejectProposal() handleRejectProposal()
handleFailure()

ContractNetInitiator_AgentB_To_AgentC

prepareCfp()

handleAllResponses()

handleInform()

handleFailure()

Here is the (obvious) results of the messages (I have added a picture at end in case this text version come out unexpectedly)

Agent A --[CFP]--> AgentB AgentC
AgentA <--[PROPOSE]-- AgentB AgentC
AgentA --[ACCEPT-PROPOSAL]--> AgentB AgentC
AgentA <--[INFORM]-- AgentB AgentC
AgentA AgentB --[CFP]--> AgentC
AgentA AgentB <--[PROPOSE]-- AgentC
AgentA AgentB --[ACCEPT-PROPOSAL]--> AgentC
AgentA AgentB <--[INFORM]-- AgentC

I understand perfectly why this is so ....because behaviours are scheduled and Agents run in a single thread.

What I am trying to do is that Agent B must only send an inform back to Agent A once Agent C has completed its task and sent an inform back to Agent B:

Agent A --[CFP]--> AgentB AgentC
AgentA <--[PROPOSE]-- AgentB AgentC
AgentA --[ACCEPT-PROPOSAL]--> AgentB AgentC

AgentA AgentB --[CFP]--> AgentC
AgentA AgentB <--[PROPOSE]-- AgentC
AgentA AgentB --[ACCEPT-PROPOSAL]--> AgentC
AgentA AgentB <--[INFORM]-- AgentC

AgentA <--[INFORM]-- AgentB AgentC

I have tried a few things without success.

Hope my email was not too vague.

Any help from the experts would be appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Marius

[cid:image001.jpg at 01CFB431.FFCCE910]

Best Regards,

Marius Claassen
Cell: +27 83 292 8935

M.Eng (Mechatronics)
Design & Mechatronics Division
Mechatronics, Automation and Design Research Group
Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
Stellenbosch University, South Africa
http://engineer.sun.ac.za<http://www.sun.ac.za/>
[cid:image002.png at 01CFB431.FFCCE910][cid:image003.gif at 01CFB431.FFCCE910]

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