A criticality-based framework for task composition in multi-agent bioinformatics integration systems

Motivation: During task composition, such as can be found in distributed query processing, workflow systems and AI planning, decisions have to be made by the system and possibly by users with respect to how a given problem should be solved. Although there is often more than one correct way of solving a given problem, these multiple solutions do not necessarily lead to the same result. Some researchers are addressing this problem by providing data provenance information. Others use expert advice encoded in a supporting knowledge-base. In this paper, we propose an approach that assesses the importance of such decisions with respect to the overall result. We present a way of measuring decision criticality and describe its potential use. Results: A multi-agent bioinformatics integration system is used as the basis of a framework that facilitates such functionality. We propose an agent architecture, and a concrete bioinformatics example (prototype) is used to show how certain decisions may not be critical in the context of more complex tasks. © The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.