MAS_UP-UCT: A Multi-Agent System for University Course Timetable Scheduling

Abstract

Many real-world applications are mapped into combinatorial problems. An example of such problem is timetable scheduling. In this case, the two basic characteristics can be defined by its distributed and dynamic environment. One efficient solution to solve this problem could be provided by an agent-based approach. A timetable scheduling problem can be modelled as a multi-agent system that provides the final schedule by taken into account all the restrictions. In this paper it is presented a preliminary research work that involves the development of a multi-agent system for university course timetable scheduling, named MAS_UP-UCT. We focus on the architecture of the multi-agent system, and on the evaluation of the communication process by using the interaction diagrams.

A survey of approaches for university course timetabling problem

“…Using this proposed method would continue the initial random solution until reaching the given optimal solution. A multi agent system has been proposed by (Oprea, 2007) for UCTTP problem scheduling where two basic features have been defined by the distribution and the dynamism of environment. An efficient solution to solve this problem could be provided by an agent based approach.…”

“…A Multi-agent Architecture for Distributed Course Timetabling (Gaspero, Missaro and Schaerf, 2004), Distributed Examination Timetabling (Kaplansky, Kendall, Meisels, and Hussin, 2004), Negotiation among Scheduling Agents for Distributed TimeTabling (Kaplanskyand Meisels, 2004), Scheduling Agents-Distributed TimeTabling Problems (Meisels, and Kaplansky, 2003), Implementation of Class Timetabling Using Multi Agents (Nandhini and Kanmani, 2009), Designing a Multi-Agent Approach System for Distributed Course TimeTabling (Obit, Landa-Silva, Ouelhadj, Khan and Alfred, 2011), A Multi-Agent System for University Course TimeTable Scheduling (Oprea, 2007), A Multi-Agent System for Automated TimeTabling with Shared Resources (Pedroso, 2003), A Multi-Agent System for University Course TimeTabling (Strnad, and Guid, 2007), Distributed University Timetabling with Multiply Sectioned Constraint Networks (Xiang, and Zhang, 2008), A multi-agent system for course timetabling, Intelligent Decision Technologies (Yanga and Paranjape, 2011), An Agent Based General Solution ModelFor the Course TimeTabling Problem , An Examination of Mobile Agents System Evolution in the Course Scheduling…”

An Application of Genetic Algorithm for University Course Timetabling Problem

“…Mihaela Oprea presented the current state of a research work that involves the development of a multiagent system for University course timetable scheduling [8]. The purpose of the work was to analyze the benefits of using an agent-based approach for the University course timetable scheduling, which involves many communication, cooperation and negotiation processes.…”

Multiagent System for Scrutiny of Admission Forms Using Automatic Knowledge Capture

“…Multi-Agent System for University Course Timetable Scheduling: MAS_UP-UCT is described in [2]. The problem is divided into two sub problems: 1.…”