DistOS-2011W Contracts and Observability Old First Page

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(TK) - I have provided a summary of key concepts that will help with the idea of resource allocation across the network under the summary for Heuristics for Enforcing Service Level Agreements in a Public Computing Utility (<--Scott can you link this directly to the summary...I have no idea how to) We can go more in depth with the concepts that catch your eyes. The paper is beautifully written and easy to understand

Problem Outline

• How do we define 'public' action? How do we monitor 'public' action without monitoring every action?
• How can you make sure your agent is acting according to your instructions?
• How can we ensure that information we receive through a third-party is legitimate?
• How do I observe the acts of other agents, particularly public acts?
• What CAN be observed?
• How can contracts be made between computers/agents?
• How can we ensure that contracts are being upheld?
• What side effects does observance have? For example if everyone can see who buys something online, would that promote or demote using such website?

Report Outline

Final Group Project Report

Group presentation

• Abstract
• Introduction
  • Observability on a Network
• Automatic Contracts (System-to-System)
  • What Can be Contracted?
  • Determining When to Initiate a Contract
  • States of a Contract
• Quantifiable Uniform Observation and Reporting of Unmanned Mediation (QUORUM)
  • System Overview
    • Roles in the QUORUM
    • Gossip and Reputation
      • QUORUM Cliques
    • Validating a Contract, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the QUORUM
      • Private Contracts
• Alternatives/Other Approaches to QUORUM
• The Future of QUORUM
• Conclusion

Focus

As we've discussed these topics we've decided that the focus of our report will be on *Contracts* and the Observation of their fulfillment. We are also under the assumption that participants are uniquely and universally identifiable.

Members

• Seyyed Hadi Sajjadpour
• Tarjit Komal
• Scott Lyons
• Andrew Luczak