Method — Agent Name Service

Identity

Agent name service (ANS) describes a structural system layer that maps human-readable identifiers to agent-specific addresses, identities, or endpoints within distributed systems.

It enables interaction with agents through stable naming abstractions instead of direct reference to underlying technical identifiers.

This reference defines agent name service as a structural concept independent of specific protocols, platforms, or implementation frameworks.

Scope Boundary

Included

• Mapping of human-readable names to agent identities or endpoints
• Name resolution mechanisms for agent addressing
• Decoupling of identity from underlying technical identifiers
• Resolution layers within distributed or networked systems
• Persistence and update logic for name-to-agent mappings

Excluded

• Protocol-specific implementations (e.g., DNS, blockchain naming systems)
• Vendor-specific naming services
• Security, authentication, or authorization mechanisms
• Regulatory or compliance interpretations
• Operational deployment architectures

Structural Phase Model

Phase 1 — Name Registration

A human-readable identifier is assigned to an agent identity or endpoint.

Phase 2 — Mapping Storage

The association between name and agent is stored within a resolution system.

Phase 3 — Name Resolution

A system resolves the human-readable identifier to the corresponding agent reference.

Phase 4 — Interaction Execution

The resolved agent identity is used to initiate interaction or communication.

Interpretation Constraint

This reference provides structural terminology and conceptual boundaries only. It does not define implementation methods, security guarantees, or protocol specifications.