Pervasive Computer Management: A Model of Network Policy with Local Autonomy

We present a model for policy based management, stressing the role of decisive autonomy in generalized networks. The organization and consistency of agent cooperation is discussed within a cooperative network. We show that some simple rules can eliminate formal inconsistencies, allowing robust approximations to management. Using graph theoretical ranking methods, we evaluate also the probable consistency and robustness of cooperation in a network region. Our theory makes natural contact with social network models in building a theory of pervasive computing. We illustrate our model with a number of examples.