Agentic AI Reference Architecture

Orchestration · Software component

Auction Task Allocator

Software componentOrchestrationOrchestration & Toolsarc:AuctionTaskAllocator

A market-inspired task allocator that collects agent bids and awards each task to the best combination of accuracy, availability and cost.

Responsibility. Awards tasks to agents via competitive bidding.

Also known as: Auctioneer, Market-based allocator

Variant of Task Allocator abstract

When to choose. Choose when allocation should adapt dynamically to agents' workload, expertise and confidence, or when agents compete for shared resources.

delegates to; receives data fromreceives data fromalternative tospecializesalternative toStrategic Agent: delegates to; receives data fromStrategic AgentWorker Agent: receives data fromWorker AgentCapability-Matching Allocator: alternative toCapability-Matching Allo…Task Allocator: specializesTask AllocatorStatic Rule Task Router: alternative toStatic Rule Task Router
Direct neighbourhood (hover for relationship types)

Relationships

delegates to dependency

receives data from dynamic

alternative to variability

Design guidance

Classification

Patterns
Auction-based coordinationMarket clearing
Quality attributes
Flexibility (ISO/IEC 25010)Performance efficiency (ISO/IEC 25010)
Risks mitigated
Bidding warsDestructive competitive escalation

Sources

  1. Ch1.3: T. Nguyen, "Multi-Agent Systems," in Mastering Agentic AI Systems: Guide for the NVIDIA NCP-AAI Exam, 1st ed. 2026, ch. 1.3. ISBN: 9798244538229.