Distributed General-Purpose Agent Networks: Architecture, Key Mechanisms, and Prototypes
This paper studies distributed general-purpose agent networks, proposing a layered architecture centered on a protocol adaptation layer, and identifies three core mechanism problems: semantic announcement propagation, verifiable identity and multi-topic reputation, and semantic-gradient mechanism design. Prototype overhead and simulations validate feasibility, providing a system-level foundation for open, trustworthy, and scalable agent collaboration.
[2606.17368] Distributed General-Purpose Agent Networks: Architecture, Key Mechanisms, and Prototypes
[Submitted on 15 Jun 2026]
Title:Distributed General-Purpose Agent Networks: Architecture, Key Mechanisms, and Prototypes
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Abstract:Large language models have accelerated the transition from passive conversational assistants to autonomous agents that can understand goals, plan actions, invoke tools, and execute multi-step tasks. Yet the capability of a single agent remains constrained by its local data, tool permissions, runtime environment, and governance boundary. This paper studies distributed general-purpose agent networks: open peer-to-peer networks in which heterogeneous agents deployed on personal devices, edge nodes, or autonomous computing environments can discover one another, establish trust, negotiate cooperation rules, and execute open-ended tasks. We argue that such networks cannot be obtained by simply combining existing peer-to-peer overlays with conventional multi-agent systems. Unlike traditional P2P networks, agent networks must propagate semantic declarations about intentions, capabilities, states, and cooperation constraints. We therefore propose a layered architecture centered on a protocol adaptation layer that connects upper-level task semantics with lower-level network operations. Based on this architecture, the paper identifies three core mechanism problems: semantic announcement propagation for collaborator discovery, verifiable identity and multi-topic reputation for cooperation governance, and semantic-gradient mechanism design for open task execution. For each problem, we present a technical route, including bodyless gossip with sequential logs, BAID-based identity binding with MG-EigenTrust reputation, and a Stackelberg-style mechanism-generation loop driven by semantic attribution feedback. We further report prototype overhead results for BAID-style tiered verification and mechanism-level simulations of MG-EigenTrust under cross-topic disguise-collusion attacks. The resulting framework provides a system-level foundation for open, trustworthy, and scalable agent collaboration.
Subjects:
Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI); Networking and Internet Architecture (cs.NI)
Cite as: arXiv:2606.17368 [cs.AI]
(or arXiv:2606.17368v1 [cs.AI] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2606.17368
arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)
Submission history
From: Shengli Zhang [view email] [v1] Mon, 15 Jun 2026 23:57:13 UTC (3,227 KB)
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