Lilypad Net

• semantic organization of chance encounters
• software agents as messages
• user driven inovation

Overview

The Lilypad Net (LPnet) architecture is separated into two layers. The structure of the network is maintained by the semantic topologies layer. This layer provides an ad-hoc directed graph of host "trackers" (Ponds). Each Pond represents a topic or other logical entity and maintains a list of LPnet hosts that are "interested" in that topic, including links to related Ponds. This provides a light weight way for hosts with similar "interests" to find each other. Because links between Ponds are unidirectional LPnet can support multiple independent topologies, including private topologies on closed networks.

The LPnet hosts (Lilypads) and agents (Frogs & Toads) reside in another layer. The Lilypads rely on the semantic topologies layer to find each other and orchestrate the exchange of agents in a logical manner. By hopping between Lilypads the agents can indirectly traverse the semantic topology. Within the semantic topology Frogs and Toads typically hop between Lilypads in a chaotic manner. This provides users with the benefit of chance encounters with new agents while increasing the likelihood that the agents they see will be related to their interests.

Each agent is written by a LPnet user before being released into the "wild" in a specific Pond of the semantic topologies. The agent then travels or propagates its way through the network as a free-roaming agent or proxy for it's author.

History

• ~1999 : feasibility research and early disign notes.
• 2001 : partial prototyping in Java (loadable jython agents, etc.)
• 2002 : network prototyping in Java, Perl & PHP.
• 2002 : award for excellence in undergraduate research.
• 2003 : refactoring and refinement (messaging protocol & data format definitions, etc)
• 2003 : paper, Lilypad Net: Agents Involving Users in the Future of The Internet.
• Research and design on the many facets of this project continues as time permits.

Papers

Coburn, B. Lilypad Net: Agents Involving Users in the Future of The Internet. University of the Pacific Computer Science Research and Projects Journal 1 (2003), 32-35. [pdf]

Documentation

Lilypad Net is a work in progress. While most official information can be found on this page, pre-press documents, a blog, and other odds and ends can be found in the Lilypad Net portion of Silicodon Snaps.