An eNegotiation framework

Abstract

Negotiation between two trading agents is a two-stage process. First, the agents exchange offers whilst acquiring and exchanging information. Second, they attempt to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement in the light of that information. This process aims to reach informed decisions in eMarket bargaining by integrating the exchange of offers and the acquisition and exchange of information drawn from the environment. Negotiation proceeds by a loose alternating offers protocol that is intended to converge when the agents believe that they are fully informed. The eNegotiation framework is a prototype for developing agents that exploit an information-rich environment in one-toone negotiation. This work is part of a program that is investigating deeper issues of market evolution and business network development in an immersive, virtual worlds eMarket environment.