Publication - Efficient Management of Multi-Linked Negotiation Based on a Formalized Model

Authors: Zhang, Xiaoqin; Lesser, Victor; and Abdallah, Sherief
Title: Efficient Management of Multi-Linked Negotiation Based on a Formalized Model
Abstract: A Multi-linked negotiation problem occurs when an agent needs to negotiate with multiple other agents about different subjects (tasks, conflicts, or resource requirements), and the negotiation over one subject has influence on negotiations over other subjects. The solution of the multi-linked negotiations problem will become increasingly important for the next generation of advanced multi-agent systems. However, most current negotiation research looks only at a single negotiation and thus does not present techniques to manage and reason about multi-linked negotiations. In this paper, we first present a technique based on the use of a partial-order schedule and a measure of the schedule, called flexibility, which enables an agent to reason explicitly about the interactions among multiple negotiations. Next, we introduce a formalized model of the multi-linked negotiation problem. Based on this model, a heuristic search algorithm is developed for finding a near-optimal ordering of negotiation issues and their parameters. Using this algorithm, an agent can evaluate and compare different negotiation approaches and choose the best one. We show how an agent uses this technology to effectively manage interacting negotiation issues. Experimental work is presented which shows the efficiency of this approach.
Keywords: Agent Control, Control, Negotiation
Publication: Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, Vol: 10, Num: 2, pp. 165 - 205
Date: 2005
Sources: PDF: /Documents/a.pdf
Reference: Zhang, Xiaoqin; Lesser, Victor; and Abdallah, Sherief . Efficient Management of Multi-Linked Negotiation Based on a Formalized Model. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, Volume 10, Number 2, pp. 165-205. 2005.
bibtex: 
@article{Zhang-384,
  author    = "Xiaoqin Zhang and Victor Lesser and Sherief 
               Abdallah",
  title     = "{Efficient Management of Multi-Linked Negotiation
               Based on a Formalized Model}",
  journal   = "Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems",
  volume    = "10",
  number    = "2",
  pages     = "165-205",
  year      = "2005",
  url       = "http://mas.cs.umass.edu/paper/384",
}