A multi-agent framework for distributed collaborative design

This paper introduces a computer supported framework for co-ordinating distributed collaborative design where the players may be geographically and temporally dispersed, and mobile. The framework is based on a multi-agent architecture overlaying CORBA middleware, providing location and migration transparency and facilitating communication between mobile entities. The architecture has been validated by the implementation of a prototype in the configuration design domain, however, it is shown to have general applicability across computer supported design. The implementation process identified a problem of distributed conflict resolution. A deontic logic based formalism is described and we show how this could be incorporated in the framework to facilitate distributed conflict management.