Category:2011-O&C

Please note that the majority of our efforts are contained on the "Discussion" page.

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

• 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