Distributed reasoning systems

A distributed reasoning system is one that is composed of separate modules (called agents) and a set of communication paths between them.

• Each agent usually acts as a problem solving entity itself.
• Many kinds of system exist ranging across:
  • Centralised control systems with shared knowledge,
  • Totally distributed control and knowledge.

Such a system must provide:

• Good coordination between the agents.
• Good communication structure.
• Distributed reasoning techniques.

Rich and Knight deal with aspects of general coordination, control and communication structures. In this lecture we will look at two specific structures that have become popular distributed reasoning mechanisms:

• Blackboard systems.
• Message passing systems.