Learning and Cooperating Multi-agent Scheduling Repair Using a Provenance-Centred Approach

Abstract

The timetabling problem is to find a timetable solution by assigning time and resources to sessions that satisfy a set of constraints. Traditionally, research has focused on optimization towards a final solution but this paper focuses on minimizing disturbance impact due to changing conditions. A Multi-Agent System (MAS) is proposed in which users are represented as autonomous agents negotiating with one another to repair a timetable. From repeated negotiations, agents learn to develop a model of other agent's preferences. The MAS is simulated on a factorial experiment set up and varying the cooperation level, learning model and selection strategy. A provenance-centred approach is adopted to improve the human aspect of timetabling to allow users to derive the steps towards a solution and make changes to influence the solution.