@Article{mailler06a,
  author =	 {Roger Mailler and Victor Lesser},
  title =	 {A Cooperative mediation-based protocol for dynamic
                  distributed resource allocation},
  journal =	 {{IEEE} Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics,
                  Part {C}},
  year =	 2006,
  volume =	 36,
  number =	 1,
  pages =	 {80--91},
  abstract =	 {In this paper, we present a cooperative
                  mediation-based protocol that solves a distributed
                  resource allocation problem while conforming to soft
                  real-time constraints in a dynamic environment. Two
                  central principles are used in this protocol that
                  allow it to operate in constantly changing
                  conditions. First, we frame the allocation problem
                  as an optimization problem, similar to a partial
                  constraint satisfaction problem (PCSP), and use
                  relaxation techniques to derive conflict (constraint
                  violation) free solutions. Second, by using
                  overlapping mediation sessions to conduct the
                  search, we are able to prune large parts of the
                  search space by using a form of
                  arc-consistency. This allows the protocol to both
                  quickly identify situations when the problem is
                  over-constrained, and to determine the appropriate
                  repair. From the global perspective, the protocol
                  has a hill climbing behavior and because it was
                  designed to work in dynamic environments, is
                  approximate. We describe the domain which inspired
                  the creation of this protocol, as well as discuss
                  experimental results.},
  doi = 	 {10.1109/TSMCC.2005.860577},
  url = 	 {http://jmvidal.cse.sc.edu/library/mailler06a.pdf},
  keywords = 	 {multiagent negotiation}
}