Formal model for contract negotiation in knowledge-based virtual Organizations

Abstract

In this paper we propose a formal model which supports the process of setting up a Virtual Organization by means of allowing contract negotiation between parties pariticipating in such VO. The negotiated contract is used to configure the necessary Grid middleware components for the purpose of contract enforcement during the lifetime of the Virtual Organization. We present a brief overview of the framework and discuss in detail the formal model underlying the process of contract negotiation and how the ontological description of the domains related to given VO supports this process. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.