Semantic Agent Discovery for Privacy-Aware Distributed Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

In decentralized networks, agents often lack knowledge of the identity and capabilities of other agents participating in a given application, leading to inefficiencies and the need for improved discovery mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for autonomous discovery of semantic profiles and associated data among networked agents, enabling adaptation to network changes and protecting privacy, using communication protocols that allow agents to exchange information without pre-established links.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If agents operate autonomously without pre-established links, then system flexibility and adaptability improve, but agents cannot discover the identity and capabilities of other agents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem flexibilityVSAvoidagent identity and capability information
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary discovery actions by broadcasting semantic profiles before actual coordination tasks. Agents proactively announce their identities and capabilities through structured semantic profiles, enabling other agents to discover them without pre-established links. This preliminary information exchange resolves the contradiction by preparing the network with necessary knowledge before operational interactions begin.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces semantic profiles as intermediary structures that mediate between autonomous agents. These profiles serve as standardized information carriers that enable discovery and coordination without requiring direct pre-established connections. The semantic profile intermediary contains structured data about agent identities, capabilities, and services, allowing agents to exchange information systematically while maintaining autonomy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If agents exchange detailed information about capabilities, then coordination efficiency improves, but privacy protection of independently owned assets deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordination efficiencyVSAvoidprivacy exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by allowing agents to selectively disclose different levels of information based on context and relationship. Semantic profiles contain structured data that can be partially shared - agents reveal necessary capability information for coordination while withholding sensitive operational details. This selective information disclosure maintains privacy while enabling sufficient coordination efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Agents perform partial information disclosure by sharing only the necessary subset of their capabilities and attributes required for specific coordination tasks. Rather than exchanging complete detailed profiles, agents provide partial information sufficient for the current interaction context, thereby maintaining coordination efficiency while protecting privacy through controlled information release.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4004842B1Autonomous semantic data discovery for distributed networked systems
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 HITACHI ENERGY LTD
  • EP4004842B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4004842B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4004842B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses for managing distributed applications of networked intelligent agents (113, 123, 133, 143, 153) are disclosed. The agents (113, 123, 133, 143, 153) are operable to autonomously discover semantic profiles and associated data of other agents (113, 123, 133, 143, 153) in a networked system (100) participating in a given application. The agents (113, 123, 133, 143, 153) need not be in direct communication with or known to all the other agents (113, 123, 133, 143, 153) in the networked system (100).