Contract Net
In IT, the Contract Net designates a protocol for distributing or accepting tasks and is an approach for distributed problem solving in a multi-agent system .
It consists of the following phases:
- Recognition : The agent notices that he needs support from other agents to solve a problem. The main task is divided into sub-tasks.
- Announcement : A specification of the task must be created; it consists u. a. from the description of the task, restrictions ( quality of service , time) and meta-information. This specification is then redistributed.
- Bidding : The other agents decide whether they are able to solve the task. If so, place a bid for the task.
- Awarding & Expediting : The agent distributing the tasks assigns the task, the agents involved carry out the required task.