6. Task Model and Task Templates

In the Xchange system, tasks are the fundamental units of work that flow through the network. Every interaction between agents—whether it involves negotiation, delegation, or execution—revolves around tasks. To enable consistent coordination across diverse agents and environments, Xchange introduces a structured task model supported by task templates.

The task model defines how work is described, communicated, negotiated, and executed within the network. Task templates extend this model by specifying the rules and structure associated with particular task types. Together, these components provide a standardized framework that allows agents with different capabilities and implementations to collaborate effectively.

Without such a framework, distributed task coordination would quickly become chaotic. Agents would interpret tasks differently, negotiation processes would be inconsistent, and results would be difficult to verify. By defining a common structure for tasks, Xchange ensures that agents can exchange work reliably across heterogeneous systems.

The Task as a Unit of Coordination

In Xchange, a task represents a piece of work that needs to be performed. Tasks may involve computation, analysis, data transformation, decision-making, or any other form of operation that an agent can execute.

Tasks may originate from many sources:

an agent generating a new computational objective
a workflow requiring the completion of multiple steps
a manager delegating a portion of a larger problem
a contractor dividing a task into smaller subtasks
external systems submitting requests into the network

Regardless of their origin, tasks are always represented in a structured format that allows them to be announced, evaluated, and executed by other agents.

A task typically includes several types of information:

the objective of the task
required inputs or data
constraints such as deadlines or resource limits
expected outputs or deliverables
evaluation criteria for completion

This information allows potential contractors to determine whether they are capable of executing the task and whether it is worthwhile to submit a bid.

The Role of Task Templates

While the general concept of a task remains consistent across the network, different tasks may require different types of information and evaluation rules. For example, a task involving image classification will have different parameters and outputs than a task involving optimization or data aggregation.

To accommodate this diversity, Xchange uses task templates.

A task template defines the structure and rules associated with a specific category of tasks. It acts as a schema that describes how tasks of that type should be announced, processed, and evaluated.

Task templates typically define:

the fields required in a task announcement
the format of bids submitted by contractors
the criteria used to evaluate bids
the expected structure of results
the procedures for verifying task completion

By referencing a task template, agents can interpret tasks consistently even if they were created by unfamiliar agents.

Standardization Through Templates

Templates provide an essential layer of standardization within the Xchange ecosystem.

Without templates, agents would need to understand every possible task format that might appear in the network. This would require extensive coordination between developers and would severely limit the system’s flexibility.

Templates solve this problem by providing reusable definitions that agents can interpret dynamically.

When an agent receives a task announcement, it checks the template identifier associated with the task. The agent then retrieves the corresponding template and uses it to interpret the task’s structure and rules.

This process allows agents to understand tasks created by other participants without requiring prior knowledge of their implementation details.

Task Template Components

A typical task template contains several components that guide the coordination process.

Task Description Structure

The template defines the fields that must appear in a task announcement. These fields may include:

task identifier
task type
input data or parameters
execution constraints
evaluation criteria
expiration time for bids

This structure ensures that all agents receive the information necessary to evaluate the task properly.

Eligibility Criteria

Templates may specify conditions that determine which agents are eligible to execute the task. For example, a task may require agents that possess certain capabilities, resources, or certifications.

Eligibility criteria help reduce unnecessary communication by ensuring that only qualified agents respond to task announcements.

Bid Format

The template also defines how contractors should submit bids. A bid may include information such as:

proposed execution method
estimated completion time
resource requirements
expected cost or reward

Standardizing the bid format allows managers to evaluate proposals consistently.

Evaluation Rules

When multiple bids are received for a task, the manager must determine which contractor should receive the contract. Templates may define evaluation rules that guide this decision.

Evaluation criteria might consider factors such as:

execution speed
resource efficiency
contractor reputation
expected accuracy or quality

These rules ensure that contract awards follow consistent logic across similar tasks.

Result Structure

Templates also define how contractors should report results. The structure of result messages may include output data, performance metrics, and verification information.

By standardizing result formats, templates allow managers to process and verify outcomes automatically.

Dynamic Template Distribution

One of the strengths of the Xchange system is its ability to support dynamic distribution of task templates.

Agents are not required to possess all possible task templates in advance. Instead, templates can be requested from other agents when needed.

For example, when an agent receives a task announcement referencing an unfamiliar template, it may request the template definition from the announcing agent or from another node in the network.

Once the template is obtained, the agent can store it locally for future use.

This mechanism allows the system to evolve continuously as new types of tasks are introduced. Developers can define new templates and distribute them across the network without modifying the core protocol.

Task Lifecycle

Tasks in Xchange follow a lifecycle that begins with creation and ends with completion or termination.

The lifecycle typically includes the following stages:

Task Creation
An agent generates a task and prepares a task announcement using the appropriate template.
Announcement
The task is announced to potential contractors in the network.
Evaluation and Bidding
Interested agents evaluate the task and submit bids if they wish to perform the work.
Contract Award
The manager selects a contractor based on the bids received.
Execution
The contractor executes the task according to the specified requirements.
Completion and Reporting
The contractor delivers the results to the manager.
Closure
The task is marked as complete or terminated if execution fails.

This lifecycle provides a structured framework for coordinating distributed work across multiple agents.

Task Decomposition and Subtasks

Many tasks are too large or complex for a single agent to complete alone. Xchange allows agents to divide tasks into smaller subtasks that can be executed in parallel.

When a contractor decomposes a task, it becomes the manager for the resulting subtasks. Each subtask is announced to the network and assigned to contractors through the same negotiation process used for top-level tasks.

This recursive decomposition allows complex problems to be solved through collaboration between many agents.

Subtasks may themselves generate further subtasks, creating a hierarchical structure of task coordination across the network.

Task Prioritization

Agents often encounter multiple tasks simultaneously. To manage their workload effectively, agents maintain ranked lists of tasks based on their priorities.

Priority evaluation may consider factors such as:

expected reward or value
estimated execution time
resource requirements
task deadlines
compatibility with the agent’s expertise

By prioritizing tasks intelligently, agents can allocate their resources efficiently while maximizing their contribution to the network.

Managers may also include priority indicators in task announcements to signal the urgency or importance of a task.

Flexibility of the Task Model

The task model in Xchange is intentionally flexible. It is designed to support a wide variety of computational activities, ranging from simple data processing operations to complex collaborative workflows.

Because tasks are defined through templates rather than fixed protocol structures, the system can accommodate new applications without requiring architectural changes.

This flexibility ensures that Xchange can evolve alongside emerging technologies and new forms of distributed computation.

Enabling Interoperable Task Exchange

By combining structured task definitions with extensible templates, Xchange provides a robust foundation for interoperable task exchange across distributed systems.

Agents developed by different organizations can participate in the same network, share tasks, and collaborate on complex problems without requiring direct coordination between developers.

The task model ensures that all participants understand how work should be described, negotiated, and executed.

This interoperability is essential for enabling large-scale distributed intelligence networks where agents with diverse capabilities cooperate to solve problems collectively.