Multi-agent systems for advanced semantic grid computing

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Grid computing is a type of distributed system that enables the sharing, selection, and aggregation of distributed resources and services in order to tackle large-scale problems in different fields: science,  business, etc... Grid computing aims at providing reliable approaches and secure environments to computing and problem solving based on collaboration by bringing resources together. To achieve the full potential of this emerging technology, grid computing is increasingly perceived to be equipped with semantic information about resources, services, customers, providers, etc... In the modern research into this domain, the focus is not only on networked and high performance computing infrastructure, but also on information handling and support for knowledge. Thus, semantic grid computing emerges as an extension of the current grid.    This research program proposes to use multi-agent systems to develop advanced semantic grid applications such as e-business and e-science. This presents new challenges that are not yet rigorously addressed. Particularly challenging problems are the engineering of flexibility, verifiability, and security of semantic grid applications. The main objective of this research is to propose a new formal model and a computational framework for specifying and developing flexible, verifiable, and secure grid computing. This is of paramount importance for e-applications. The methodology is based on the use of multi-agent techniques particularly, logic and argumentation-based agents, and extended verification and security techniques adapted to grid architecture. At the architectural level, we propose to investigate a service-oriented view of the grid. This view is based upon the notion of various entities providing services to one another under various forms of contract. The idea, ultimately, is to bridge the chasm between current practice in developing systems and the sophisticated insights of the modern research into web services, multi-agent systems, and semantic grid computing. The challenges motivated here squarely addresses the scientific and engineering foundations of semantic-grid computing.