ANOMALY MANAGEMENT SCHEME FOR A MULTI-AGENT SYSTEM

An anomaly management method is provided for a multi-agent system (MAS) in which a plurality of application agents are arranged to be capable of interacting with each other over a communications network. The MAS has a plurality of anomaly management agents arranged to receive reports from a referring agent regarding a referred agent when a referring agent has determined an interaction anomaly has occurred which was potentially caused by one or more conditions associated with a referred agent. The anomaly management agent is arranged to determine one or more conditions associated with the referred agent which have caused the interaction anomaly. The anomaly management agent is also arranged to remedy the condition. The method comprises at least one of said plurality of anomaly management agents receiving a message containing information related to the interaction with the referred agent from the referring agent. The message comprises information identifying the referred agent and other information related to the interaction anomaly. One or more possible conditions associated with the referred agent which may have caused the interaction anomaly are determined from the information provided by the referring agent. A plurality of tests is then performed to determine at least one condition associated with the referred agent. Finally, the condition associated with the referred agent is remedied. The referring agent may then be provided with feedback information to enable the interaction to be resumed.