OBJECTIVES

The aim of UNIPS project is the design and implementation of a system, based on both Distributed Artificial Intelligence and Constraint Satisfaction techniques for solving scheduling and planning problems often existing in a University environment. These problems include course planning, resource allocation, class timetabling, room allocation and exam scheduling. Plans and schedules related to those problems are generated in co-operation by a set of agents of different kinds and with different capabilities. This includes specific problem solving agents, personal agents, information storing agents, and information distribution agents. The main objectives of this project are:

• To study course planning, resource allocation, class timetabling, room allocation, exam scheduling and all other organisation problems in a University.
• Definition of a hierarchical, multi-agent architecture for the university environment.
• Design and Implementation of a Timetabling Agent based on Constraint Logic Programming (standalone mode) and in Negotiation techniques (communicative mode).
• Design and Implementation of Examination Scheduling Agent based on Constraint Logic Programming (standalone mode) and in Negotiation techniques (communicative mode).
• Design and Implementation of a Course Planning and Resource Allocation Agent based on Constraint Logic Programming (standalone mode) and in Negotiation techniques (communicative mode).
• Design and Implementation of a Personal Agent for each entity encountered in the university environment.
• Design and Implementation of Information storing and distribution agents for the university environment
• Definition of new negotiation protocols between autonomous agents to enable multi-issue bids, coalition formation and constraint based issues

DURATION

December of 1995 – December of 1999 – Forty Eight Months

FUNDING INSTITUTIONS

• FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
• LIACC – Laboratório de Inteligência Artificial e Ciências da Computação
• FEUP – Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto
• UFP – Universidade Fernando Pessoa

PROJECT TEAM

This is a project developed at NIAR – Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Group (belonging to LIACC).
The LIACC members involved in this project are:

• Eugénio Oliveira
• Luís Paulo Reis

• Pedro Miguel Faria
• Ricardo Dias
• Paulo Teixeira
• Natália Franco

For Further Information Please Contact:

• Luis Paulo Reis, EMAIL: [email protected]
• Eugénio Oliveira, EMAIL: [email protected]
• MAIL: NIAR – Faculdade de Engenharia da Unversidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 4099 Porto Codex, Portugal
• FAX: (351) 2 319280
• PHONE: (351) 2 2041849