Abstract. Model checking is a formal and automatic technique used to verify computational systems (e.g. communication protocols) against given properties. The purpose of this chapter is to describe a model checking algorithm to verify communication protocols used by autonomous agents interacting using dialogue games, which are governed by a set of logical rules. We use a variant of Extended Computation Tree Logic CTL* for specifying these dialogue games and the properties to be checked. This logic, called ACTL*, extends CTL* by allowing formulae to constrain actions as well as states. The verification method uses an on-the-fly efficient algorithm. It is based on translating formulae into a variant of alternating tree automata called Alternating Büchi Tableau Automata (ABTA). We present a tableau-based version of this algorithm and provide the soundness, completeness, termination and complexity results. Two case studies are discussed along with their respective implementations to illustrate the proposed approach. The first one is about an agent-based negotiation protocol and the second one considers a modified version of the NetBill protocol.
In autonomous multi-agent systems, agents communicate with each other in order to cooperatively resolve problems and achieve joint goals. In advanced applications such as ebusiness, agents should be able to communicate not only by exchanging simple massages, but by engaging in complex conversations such as persuasions and negotiations. In this paper; we address the computational complexity problem of such conversations where agents are equipped with reasoning capabilities based upon argumentation. We argue that the computational efficiency of these conversations depends on the underlying logical language and on the type of reasoning mechanisms. In addition, we show how a trade-off between complexity andflexibility could be achieved.
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