On Some Fundamental Problems for Multi-Agent Systems Over Multilayer Networks

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Rosenkrantz, Daniel J., Marathe, Madhav V., Qiu, Zirou, Ravi, S. S., Stearns, Richard E.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Rosenkrantz, Daniel J.
Marathe, Madhav V.
Qiu, Zirou
Ravi, S. S.
Stearns, Richard E.
author_facet Rosenkrantz, Daniel J.
Marathe, Madhav V.
Qiu, Zirou
Ravi, S. S.
Stearns, Richard E.
contents Many researchers have considered multi-agent systems over single-layer networks as models for studying diffusion phenomena. Since real-world networks involve connections between agents with different semantics (e.g., family member, friend, colleague), the study of multi-agent systems over multilayer networks has assumed importance. Our focus is on one class of multi-agent system models over multilayer networks, namely multilayer synchronous dynamical systems (MSyDSs). We study several fundamental problems for this model. We establish properties of the phase spaces of MSyDSs and bring out interesting differences between single-layer and multilayer dynamical systems. We show that, in general, the problem of determining whether two given MSyDSs are inequivalent is NP-complete. This hardness result holds even when the only difference between the two systems is the local function at just one node in one layer. We also present efficient algorithms for the equivalence problem for restricted versions of MSyDSs (e.g., systems where each local function is a bounded-threshold function, systems where the number of layers is fixed and each local function is symmetric). In addition, we investigate the expressive power of MSyDSs based on the number of layers. In particular, we examine conditions under which a system with k >= 2 layers has an equivalent system with k-1 or fewer layers.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_12684
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle On Some Fundamental Problems for Multi-Agent Systems Over Multilayer Networks
Rosenkrantz, Daniel J.
Marathe, Madhav V.
Qiu, Zirou
Ravi, S. S.
Stearns, Richard E.
Multiagent Systems
Computational Complexity
F.1; F.2
Many researchers have considered multi-agent systems over single-layer networks as models for studying diffusion phenomena. Since real-world networks involve connections between agents with different semantics (e.g., family member, friend, colleague), the study of multi-agent systems over multilayer networks has assumed importance. Our focus is on one class of multi-agent system models over multilayer networks, namely multilayer synchronous dynamical systems (MSyDSs). We study several fundamental problems for this model. We establish properties of the phase spaces of MSyDSs and bring out interesting differences between single-layer and multilayer dynamical systems. We show that, in general, the problem of determining whether two given MSyDSs are inequivalent is NP-complete. This hardness result holds even when the only difference between the two systems is the local function at just one node in one layer. We also present efficient algorithms for the equivalence problem for restricted versions of MSyDSs (e.g., systems where each local function is a bounded-threshold function, systems where the number of layers is fixed and each local function is symmetric). In addition, we investigate the expressive power of MSyDSs based on the number of layers. In particular, we examine conditions under which a system with k >= 2 layers has an equivalent system with k-1 or fewer layers.
title On Some Fundamental Problems for Multi-Agent Systems Over Multilayer Networks
topic Multiagent Systems
Computational Complexity
F.1; F.2
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.12684