探索大模型工具调用中循环子任务图的适用性与成本权衡
Complete Cyclic Subtask Graphs for Tool-Using LLM Agents: Flexibility, Cost, and Bottlenecks in Long-Horizon Workflows

- 构建全连接循环子任务图,支持自然语言驱动的灵活回溯与路由
- 在不同任务中发现三类工作流特征:依赖链、可恢复探索和开放证据合成
- 揭示循环结构并非万能,需结合检索与验证机制才能有效提升性能
长时序工具使用任务有时需要重新访问早期子任务,但显式回溯会增加路由、协调和令牌开销。本文研究完整循环子任务图(Complete Cyclic Subtask Graphs)用于大语言模型(LLM)代理:一种所有可执行子任务完全连通的工作流控制器,由统一的状态分析与路由代理根据自然语言条件选择转移。我们在TextCraft、ALFWorld和Finance-Agent上评估了任务特定(Spec-Cyc)与基准通用(Gen-Cyc)循环图,对比ReAct和依赖导向工作流。主要依赖导向控制器为DepDAG,支持同子任务重试,同时保持前向依赖约束。案例研究表明存在三种工作流模式而非单一最优架构。TextCraft表现为前置依赖链场景,循环路由常引入额外开销;ALFWorld表现为部分可观测恢复场景,显式回溯提升探索与成功率;Finance-Agent表现为开放证据合成场景,仅靠工作流控制不足,需更强的检索、对齐与验证机制。我们引入工作流特征矩阵、故障注入鲁棒性分析、令牌成本核算、图稳定性报告、DepDAG转移审计检查及轨迹失败模式结构。总体而言,完整循环子任务图应视为诊断性工作流控制工具:揭示何时灵活回溯值得其代价,何时更简单、局部重试或稀疏化控制器更优。
原文摘要 · Abstract (English)
Long-horizon tool-using tasks sometimes benefit from revisiting earlier subtasks, but explicit revisitation also adds routing, coordination, and token cost. We study complete cyclic subtask graphs for large language model (LLM) agents: a workflow controller in which executable subtasks are fully connected and a unified state-analysis-and-routing agent selects transitions from natural-language criteria. We evaluate task-specific (Spec-Cyc) and benchmark-generic (Gen-Cyc) cyclic graphs on TextCraft, ALFWorld, and Finance-Agent against ReAct and dependency-directed workflows. Our main dependency-directed controller is DepDAG, which permits same-subtask retry while preserving forward dependency constraints. The evaluated case studies suggest three workflow signatures rather than a universal architecture ranking. TextCraft behaves like a prerequisite-chain setting, where cyclic routing often adds overhead. ALFWorld behaves like a partially observable recovery setting, where explicit revisitation improves exploration and success. Finance-Agent behaves like an open-ended evidence-synthesis setting, where workflow control alone is insufficient without stronger retrieval, grounding, and verification mechanisms. We add a qualified workflow-signature matrix, fault-injection robustness analysis, token-cost accounting, graph-stability reporting, transition-audit checks for DepDAG, and failure-mode structure for trajectory analysis. Overall, complete cyclic subtask graphs are best understood as a diagnostic workflow-control tool: they expose when flexible backtracking is worth its cost and when simpler, locally retrying, or sparsified controllers are preferable.
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