A Protocol for a Distributed Recommender System

We present a domain model and protocol for the exchange of recommendations by selfish agents without the aid of any centralized control. Our model captures a subset of the realities of recommendation exchanges in the Internet. We provide an algorithm that selfish agents can use for deciding whether to exchange recommendations and with whom. We analyze this algorithm and show that, under certain common circumstances, the agents’ rational choice is to exchange recommendations. Finally, we have implemented our model and algorithm and tested the performance of various populations. Our results show that both the social welfare and the individual utility of the agents is increased by participating in the exchange of recommendations.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2004
• Where: ATAL
• Authors: José M. Vidal
• Keywords: Algorithm, ATAL 2004, Model, Selfish Agents