Operations

DETECT

Identify conflicts between memory units.

Purpose

DETECT allows agents or the Field itself to identify contradictions between memory units. Conflicts may be detected explicitly (via contradicts relations in RECORD) or automatically through semantic, logical, or temporal analysis at Level 2+.

Conformance Level

Level 1+ — Level 0 implementations MAY omit DETECT.

Request

{
  "mode": "check | scan | list",
  "target_id": "<string | null>",
  "filter": {
    "status": ["<string>"],
    "types": ["<string>"],
    "involving_agents": ["<string>"]
  }
}

Field	Required	Description
`mode`	✓	Detection mode. See modes below.
`target_id`		Required for `check` mode. The memory unit to check.
`filter`		Optional filters for `list` and `scan` modes.

Modes

Mode	Description	Required Level
`list`	Return all known conflicts matching the filter.	1+
`check`	Check a specific memory unit against the Field for contradictions. Requires `target_id`.	1+ (MAY support)
`scan`	Run conflict detection across all memory units in scope.	2+

Response

{
  "status": "ok",
  "conflicts": ["<Conflict>"],
  "scan_coverage": {
    "units_scanned": "<number>",
    "new_conflicts_found": "<number>"
  }
}

Behavioral Requirements

Level 1+ The Field MUST support list mode.

Level 1+ The Field MUST detect explicit conflicts when a RECORD includes a contradicts relation.

Level 2+ The Field MUST support all three modes and MUST implement at least one automatic detection method beyond explicit relations.

Automatic Detection Methods (Level 2+)

Method	Description
`semantic`	Memory units with high embedding similarity but opposing claims are flagged.
`logical`	A finding's assumptions contradict another finding's content.
`temporal`	A newer, lower-confidence finding contradicts an established, higher-confidence finding.

The protocol does not prescribe specific thresholds or algorithms for automatic detection. These are implementation choices documented by the implementor.

Example

Check for conflicts involving a specific unit:

{
  "protocol": "akashik",
  "version": "0.1.0",
  "id": "msg-015",
  "operation": "DETECT",
  "agent_id": "analyst-01",
  "session_id": null,
  "epoch": 15,
  "payload": {
    "mode": "check",
    "target_id": "mem-002"
  }
}

Response:

{
  "status": "ok",
  "conflicts": [
    {
      "id": "conflict-001",
      "type": "factual",
      "status": "detected",
      "unit_a": "mem-002",
      "unit_b": "mem-010",
      "description": "Conflicting market growth estimates: 23% CAGR vs 14% CAGR",
      "detected_by": "explicit"
    }
  ],
  "scan_coverage": {
    "units_scanned": 1,
    "new_conflicts_found": 0
  }
}

Error Codes

Code	Condition	Recoverable
`UNIT_NOT_FOUND`	`target_id` references a nonexistent memory unit	No
`AGENT_NOT_REGISTERED`	`agent_id` is not a registered active agent	Yes — call REGISTER first
`UNSUPPORTED_OPERATION`	`scan` or `check` mode not supported at this conformance level	No

DEREGISTER

Agent leaves the Field gracefully.

MERGE

Resolve a detected conflict using a structured strategy.