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Determining
what agent can best handle an event can be done in a number of ways, the one
selected depending both on the organization of the CDPS group as well as on
the agent's knowledge. If the group's organization is hierarchical, for
example, then it may be a standing policy that an agent noticing an event must
notify its superior, which will then (possibly after notifying its
superior, etc.) select the agent(s) that will handle the event. In other
situations, for example, when there is a ``flat'' agent organization (e.g., in
PGP systems [Durfee &Lesser, 1987]), agents may negotiate among themselves as to who
should handle the event.
The agent's own knowledge impacts the determination as well. If it has
sufficient knowledge, it may be able to predict which of its fellow agents is
in the best position, from the standpoint of both knowledge and ability, to
handle the event. To do this, it needs knowledge of other agents' abilities,
intentions, knowledge, and current workload. The latter is needed because an
agent may be in the best position to handle an event, yet be too busy.