In this paper we define and study a multi-agent extension of autoepistemic logic (AEL) called distributed autoepistemic logic (dAEL). We define the semantics of dAEL using approximation fixpoint theory, an abstract algebraic framework that unifies different knowledge representation formalisms by describing their semantics as fixpoints of semantic operators. We define 2- and 3-valued semantic operators for dAEL. Using these operators, approximation fixpoint theory allows us to define a class of semantics for dAEL, each based on different intuitions that are well-studied in the context of AEL. We define a mapping from dAEL to AEL and identify the conditions under which the mapping preserves semantics, and furthermore argue that when it does not, the dAEL semantics is more desirable than the AEL-induced semantics since dAEL manages to contain inconsistencies. The development of dAEL has been motivated by an application in the domain of access control. We explain how dAEL can be fruitfully applied to this domain and discuss how well-suited the different semantics are for the application in access control.

翻译：本文定义并研究了一种称为分布式自动认知逻辑（dAEL）的多智能体扩展形式。我们利用近似不动点理论定义dAEL的语义——这一抽象代数框架通过将不同知识表示形式的语义描述为语义算子的不动点，实现了多种知识表示形式的统一。我们为dAEL定义了二值和三值语义算子，借助这些算子，近似不动点理论能够定义一类基于不同直觉的dAEL语义——这些直觉在自动认知逻辑（AEL）背景下已得到充分研究。我们建立了从dAEL到AEL的映射，并确定了该映射保持语义的条件；进一步论证当映射不保持语义时，dAEL语义比AEL诱导的语义更具优势，因为dAEL能够有效控制不一致性。dAEL的发展源于访问控制领域的应用需求。我们阐述了dAEL如何成功应用于该领域，并讨论了不同语义在访问控制应用中的适用性。