DISTRIBUTED AIR-TRAFFIC-CONTROL .1. THEORETICAL-STUDIES

The present paper introduces some basic concepts and terminology of distributed planning, and describes a novel coordinator-coworker structure-a control mechanism that can dynamically reorganize the planning system in response to the tasks at hand. Coordinators get either self-appointed in unambiguous situations or selected through a unique and inexpensive nomination/confirmation process. The matching of tasks and coworkers is accomplished with minimum message passing and processing, by using appropriate meta-knowledge about the status of the network of nodes. Connections can be initiated by both coordinators and coworkers, leading to optimum load balancing. A hierarchically organized set of distributed scratch pads supports the coordinator-coworker mechanism. It is the medium for information exchange and also provides the basis for self-repairing in a graceful degradation mode whenever individual nodes become inoperational. We discuss the problems of air-traffic control and describe the kernel design of the airborne processors in a location-centered cooperative planning system. Finally, we explain the simulation-based planning process and its timing and selection considerations. A companion paper follows in the journal.