UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2010/2011
THIRD YEAR EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BIT 4304: DISTRIBUTED INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
DATE: AUGUST 2011 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer question ONE and any other TWO questions
Question One
a) Define the following concepts
i) Multia agent systems (2 Marks)
ii)Agent function (2 Marks)
iii) Ontology (2 Marks)
b) Distinguish between deterministic and non-deterministic agent environments. Give one example
for each case (4 Marks)
c) Explain any four properties of an intelligent agent (4 Marks)
d) Describe how you can design an agent that can wipe the windscreens when needed? (5 Marks)
e) Describe two characteristics of a symbolic architecture. Give one situation that is suitable for this
architecture (3 Marks)
f) Describe four characteristics of a distributed intelligent system (4 Marks)
g) Explain how agents technology is applied in human computer interface (2 Marks)
h) Briefly explain two capabilities that are required for agents to for agents to strike a deal they
reach in agreements (2 Marks
Question Two
a) Explain the following concepts in the context of distributed intelligent agents
i) agent architecture (2 Marks)
ii) Argumentation (2 Marks)
iii) Sphere of influence (2 Marks)
b) What is meant by the term ‘planning Agents’? describe one example. (3 Marks)
c) Touline (1958) proposed an argument structure with three components. Explain each of these
components (3 Marks)
d) Briefly explain four ways in which arguments interact with one another (4 Marks)
e) Describe four properties of an action in plan architecture (4 Marks)
Question Three
a)Describe the meaning of the following concepts:
i) rebut (2 Marks)
ii) Means –end reasoning (2 Marks)
iii) Contract net (2 Marks)
b) “intelligent behaviour can be generated without explicit abstract reasoning of the kind that
symbolic AI proposes”. Explain this statement (2 Marks)
c)Describe any four differences between agents and objects (4 Marks)
d) In a multi agent environment agent’s form contract net to govern the exchange of goods and
services. Briefly explain four responsibilities of Manager agent in contract net. (4 Marks).
e)Explain any four types of per formatives in speech acts (4 Marks)
Question Four
a) Describe the five desirable properties of a protocol in agent negotiations (5 Marks)
b) Briefly explain four limitations of agents auctions (4 Marks)
c) Contract net is a very structured form of negotiation used to achieve task sharing. Outline the five
phases of the contract net protocol and what problems may arise in practice. (5 Marks)
d) Describe three degrees of agents co-operation in the context of multi-agent systems (3 Marks)
e) Differentiate between agents Cooperation and agents Negotiation as used in multi-agent systems.
(2 Marks)
Question Five
a) describe the following concepts
i) Nash equilibirium (2 Marks)
ii).Conflict deal (2 Marks)
iii) Speech act (2 Marks)
b) explain three negotiation protocols in distributed intelligent agents (3 Marks)
c) Briefly explain Three components of negotiation set (3 Marks)
d) Describe three problems associated with KQML Interoperation (3 Marks)
e) Explain the five stages of Coalition Formation Operation Lifecycle in the context of distributed
intelligent agents. (5 Marks)
