基于遗传算法的多边多议题自动协商模型

协商是MAS实现协同、协作和冲突消解的关键环节。在虚拟组织建立的背景之下,讨论了现有的多agent协商技术,提出了一个基于遗传算法的多边多议题自动协商模型,并且给出了相应的协议和算法。该模型能够迅速求出协商解,且agent能保持较高的效用,因此具有一定的通用性,适宜在动态的、时间约束强的开放网络环境下工作。     

Knowledgeable Cyberbrokers for electronic markets

Electronic commerce is just beginning to be realisable. A number of technological, sociological and economic developments will be required before a large-scale roll out of electronic commerce can be expected. An architectural framework should be defined and needs to incorporate the semantics of contracting and negotiation based on knowledge technology. Electronic commerce has recently increased the demand for personalisation capabilities dramatically. This would imply the use of user-adaptive agents. Because electronic commerce is intrinsically interactive with virtual catalogues, this framework should make such interaction possible. This framework is centred around the Cyber e-Broker concept based on knowledge-based agents. Electronic commerce involves parties that may belong to different domains or administrations with different ontologies. This framework should enable manipulation of such information and enable conversion between ontologies. The e-broker ensures the correct negotiation protocols, and enforces the constraints and contracts, but also interacts with the virtual catalogues.     

A formal analysis of interest-based negotiation

In multi-agent systems (MAS), negotiation provides a powerful metaphor for automating the allocation and reallocation of resources. Methods for automated negotiation in MAS include auction-based protocols and alternating offer bargaining protocols. Recently, argumentation-based negotiation has been accepted as a promising alternative to such approaches. Interest-based negotiation (IBN) is a form of argumentation-based negotiation in which agents exchange (1) information about their underlying goals; and (2) alternative ways to achieve these goals. However, the usefulness of IBN has been mostly established in the literature by appeal to intuition or by use of specific examples. In this paper, we propose a new formal model for reasoning about interest-based negotiation protocols. We demonstrate the usefulness of this framework by defining and analysing two different IBN protocols. In particular, we characterise conditions that guarantee their advantage (in the sense of expanding the set of individual rational deals) over the more classic proposal-based approaches to negotiation.     

Design of Roles and Protocols for Electronic Negotiations

Support for negotiations in electronic markets is one of the primary issues in today's e-commerce research. Whereas most activities are focused on automation aspects, only few efforts address the design of electronic negotiations. However, for the efficiency of electronic negotiation processes and the success of resulting settlements, it is essential to achieve an a-priori agreement among the negotiating parties about issues such as the syntax and semantics of offer specifications, the sequence of actions, possible responses, or time constraints, because these factors might influence, for instance, the fairness of the electronic negotiation.This paper demonstrates how an explicit and specific design can capture the way electronic negotiations are organised. The organisation design meta-model presented is part of SILKROAD, a design and application framework for electronic negotiations. On the basis of this framework, organisations creating an electronic market or sellers intending to offer potential buyers the option to bargain, can generate, in a flexible and efficient way, customised electronic negotiation systems supporting the roles and protocols designed. Furthermore, the consequent application of this meta-model can lead to the discovery of common negotiation patterns, eventually resulting in a reference model for electronic negotiations.     

多物流中心协同配送车辆调度模型研究

提出了基于多Agent的物流中心协同配送车辆配载调度系统框架。系统中的Agent以自组织方式暂时结盟,结盟原则是联盟内成员完成物流任务成本最小。重点研究了联盟成员实施协同配送车辆配载调度优化算法以及结合配送货物共有性、车辆负载及行驶路径的基因自适应换位算子,并就实施协同配送利益分享协商模型中的协商协议、协商策略进行重点分析。实验结果表明,自组织协同配送可以降低成本,提高物流配送效益。     

An ontology-based approach to automated trust negotiation

We propose an ontology-based approach to automated trust negotiation (ATN) to establish a common vocabulary for ATN across heterogeneous domains and show how ontologies can be used to specify and implement ATN systems. The components of the ATN framework are expressed in terms of a shared ontology and ontology inference techniques are used to perform ATN policy compliance checking. On this basis, a semantically relevant negotiation strategy (SRNS) is proposed that ensures the success of a negotiation whenever it is semantically possible. We analyze the properties of SRNS and evaluate the performance of the ontology-based ATN.     

Multi-Dimensional,MultiStep Negotiation

We present a multi-dimensional, multi-step negotiation mechanism for task allocation among cooperative agents based on distributed search. This mechanism uses marginal utility gain and marginal utility cost to structure this search process, so as to find a solution that maximizes the agents’ combined utility. These two utility values together with temporal constraints summarize the agents’ local information and reduce the communication load. This mechanism is anytime in character: by investing more time, the agents increase the likelihood of getting a better solution. We also introduce a multiple attribute utility function into negotiations. This allows agents to negotiate over the multiple attributes of the commitment, which produces more options, making it more likely for agents to find a solution that increases the global utility. A set of protocols are constructed and the experimental result shows a phase transition phenomenon as the complexity of negotiation situation changes. A measure of negotiation complexity is developed that can be used by an agent to choose an appropriate protocol, allowing the agents to explicitly balance the gain from the negotiation and the resource usage of the negotiation.This revised version was published online in August 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

A knowledge-based framework for complex, proactive and service-oriented e-negotiation systems

Advances in information technology and knowledge management change the way that e-negotiations, which constitute an important aspect of worldwide e-trading, can be structured and represented. In this paper, a novel approach that focuses on knowledge modeling, formalization, representation and management in the domain of e-negotiation is described. The proposed approach exploits Ontologies, Service Oriented Architectures, Semantic Web Services, software agent platforms, and Knowledge-Bases to construct a framework that favors dynamically adapted negotiation protocols, negotiation process visualization and management, modeling and preference elicitation of the negotiated object and automatic deployment of negotiation interfaces. Negotiation process, protocol and strategy are examined, and a hybrid approach that integrates rules and workflow diagrams to describe and represent them is introduced.     

A trust negotiation system for digital library Web services

A scalable approach to trust negotiation is required in digital library (DL) environments that have large and dynamic user populations. In this paper we introduce Trust-Serv, a model-driven trust negotiation framework for Web services, and show how it can be used to effectively handle trust negotiation in DLs. The framework employs a model for trust negotiation based on state machines, extended with security abstractions. High-level specifications expressed with the state-machine-based model are then translated into formats suitable for automating the trust negotiation process. The proposed framework also supports negotiation policy lifecycle management, an important trait in the dynamic environments that characterize DLs. In particular, we present a set of policy change operations that enable the dynamic evolution of negotiation policies without disrupting ongoing negotiations. The proposed approach has been implemented as a container-centric mechanism that is transparent to the DL and to the developers of DL Web services, simplifying DL development and management as well as enabling scalable deployments.     

Negotiation as a metaphor for distributed problem solving

We describe the concept of distributed problem solving and define it as the cooperative solution of problems by a decentralized and loosely coupled collection of problem solvers. This approach to problem solving offers the promise of increased performance and provides a useful medium for exploring and developing new problem-solving techniques.We present a framework called the contract net that specifies communication and control in a distributed problem solver. Task distribution is viewed as an interactive process, a discussion carried on between a node with a task to be executed and a group of nodes that may be able to execute the task. We describe the kinds of information that must be passed between nodes during the discussion in order to obtain effective problem-solving behavior. This discussion is the origin of the negotiation metaphor: Task distribution is viewed as a form of contract negotiation.We emphasize that protocols for distributed problem solving should help determine the content of the information transmitted, rather than simply provide a means of sending bits from one node to another.The use of the contract net framework is demonstrated in the solution of a simulated problem in area surveillance, of the sort encountered in ship or air traffic control. We discuss the mode of operation of a distributed sensing system, a network of nodes extending throughout a relatively large geographic area, whose primary aim is the formation of a dynamic map of traffic in the area.From the results of this preliminary study we abstract features of the framework applicable to problem solving in general, examining in particular transfer of control. Comparisons with planner, conniver, hearsay-ii, and pup6 are used to demonstrate that negotiation—the two-way transfer of information—is a natural extension to the transfer of control mechanisms used in earlier problem-solving systems.     

利用SOCKSv5协议构建网络边界安全框架

针对电路级网关的SOCKSv5协议及其特点，利用其灵活的协议协商阶段，对SOCKSv5的标准协议进行扩展，在SOCKS的协商峄工作在其他网络层次的安全协议的安全环境的建立，从而实现对工作在不同层次的网络安全协议的统一、单点的管理。利用SOCKS化客户端软件，向SOCKS服务器提供客户所表求的应用、命令等信息，从而实现高细粒度控制。利用SOCKSv5协议及其在上的扩展，构建网络边界安全框架，具有功能强大、可扩展性强、管理策略统一、细粒度高的特性。     

一种基于Web的虚拟机

为了使基于Web的应用能够同时利用几种主流Web构架、标准和协议的优点,并且对基于Web应用的开发人员提供统一的接口,在不同的构架、标准和协议之上编写统一的并可以移植的代码,提出了一种可以在Web上运行的虚拟机并实现了一个原型系统.该技术已成功地应用在实际系统中的Web基础构架模块.     

一种基于XML的贸易协商协议

在商业贸易过程中,制定合同或者订单之前,贸易双方的协商是个很重要的环节。如果要在电子商务中实现这个过程,那么如何描述贸易双方的需求以及如何解决贸易双方需求之间的矛盾是关键所在。该文提出了一种基于XML的贸易协商协议和对应的系统框架以解决这个问题,从而在电子商务中实现了贸易协商过程的自动化和标准化。     

Negotiating SLAs-An Approach for a Generic Negotiation Framework for WS-Agreement

The current Web Services Agreement specification draft proposes a simple request-response protocol for agreement creation only addressing bilateral offer exchanges. This paper proposes a framework augmenting this WS-Agreement to enable negotiations according to a variety of bilateral and multilateral negotiation protocols. The framework design is based on a thorough analysis of taxonomies for negotiations from the literature in order to allow for capturing a variety of different negotiation models within a single, WS-Agreement compatible, framework. In order to provide for the intended flexibility, the proposed protocol takes a two-stage approach: a meta-protocol is conducted among interested parties to agree on a common negotiation protocol first before the real negotiation is carried out in the second step due to the protocol established in the first step.     

Building a Multiple-Criteria Negotiation Support System

Electronic negotiation systems have been devised to create an electronic marketplace for bargaining, auctions, reverse auctions, and exchanges between multiple buyers and sellers. Most studies of negotiation systems concentrate on negotiation process modeling and data modeling?rather than on strategies and efficiency?for a multiple-criteria decision making (MCDM) problem in which many criteria are taken into account as attributes for decision making. This study proposes an active collaboration and negotiation framework (ACNF), which is a negotiation support system that uses active documents with embedded business logics or business rules that can adapt to different collaborative strategies in a business-to-business (B2B) environment. The risk preferences of negotiators are modeled and measured by utility functions that provide mathematical tools to compute the relative value of different courses of action. The system is demonstrated, and three experiments are conducted to validate its performance. The experiments show that the negotiation process is very efficient, and the results are both close to the efficient point?or the Pareto frontier?and are fair to both negotiating parties. The framework can be used to efficiently and effectively achieve a settlement in various multiple-criteria bargaining schemes in the electronic marketplace.     

Cover2

Electronic negotiation systems have been devised to create an electronic marketplace for bargaining, auctions, reverse auctions, and exchanges between multiple buyers and sellers. Most studies of negotiation systems concentrate on negotiation process modeling and data modeling - rather than on strategies and efficiency - for a multiple-criteria decision making (MCDM) problem in which many criteria are taken into account as attributes for decision making. This study proposes an active collaboration and negotiation framework (ACNF), which is a negotiation support system that uses active documents with embedded business logics or business rules that can adapt to different collaborative strategies in a business-to-business (B2B) environment. The risk preferences of negotiators are modeled and measured by utility functions that provide mathematical tools to compute the relative value of different courses of action. The system is demonstrated, and three experiments are conducted to validate its performance. The experiments show that the negotiation process is very efficient, and the results are both close to the efficient point - and the Pareto frontier - and are fair to both negotiating parties. The framework can be used to efficiently and effectively achieve a settlement in various multiple-criteria bargaining schemes in the electronic marketplace     

Cooperation Protocols in Multi-Agent Robotic Systems

Multi-agent robotic systems are useful in many practical applications. For some tasks, such as holding a conference, cooperation among agents are necessary. For other tasks, such as cleaning a room, multiple agents can work in parallel for better performance. This paper provides help-based (HCP) and coordination-based (CCP) protocols for controlling agents to accomplish multi-agent tasks. The HCP utilizes efficient negotiation to coordinate agents into groups. The CCP improves overall performance by exchanging local knowledge among agents and making decisions in parallel. A reactive and modularized agent architecture was employed to implement the protocols. Since each protocol is embedded into the architecture, it is efficient and effective. In addition, the protocols are deadlock-free. The protocols were utilized to solve the Object-Sorting Task, which abstracts two characteristics of tasks: parallelism and cooperation. The experimental results showed that 1) both HCP and CCP are stable under different workload; 2) the protocols can effectively utilize the agent-power to achieve super-linear improvement; 3) The CCP is better than the HCP in both performance and speedup.     

Mandi: a market exchange for trading utility and cloud computing services

The recent development in Cloud computing has enabled the realization of delivering computing as an utility. Many industries such as Amazon and Google have started offering Cloud services on a “pay as you go” basis. These advances have led to the evolution of the market infrastructure in the form of a Market Exchange (ME) that facilitates the trading between consumers and Cloud providers. Such market environment eases the trading process by aggregating IT services from a variety of sources, and allows consumers to easily select them. In this paper, we propose a light weight and platform independent ME framework called “Mandi”, which allows consumers and providers to trade computing resources according to their requirements. The novelty of Mandi is that it not only gives its users the flexibility in terms of negotiation protocol, but also allows the simultaneous coexistence of multiple trading negotiations. In this paper, we first present the requirements that motivated our design and discuss how these facilitate the trading of compute resources using multiple market models (also called negotiation protocols). Finally, we evaluate the performance of the first prototype of “Mandi” in terms of its scalability.     

REFRAHN: A Resilience Evaluation Framework for Ad Hoc Routing Protocols

Routing protocols are key elements for ad hoc networks. They are in charge of establishing routes between network nodes efficiently. Despite the interest shown by the scientific community and industry in converting the first specifications of ad hoc routing protocols in functional prototypes, aspects such as the resilience of these protocols remain generally unaddressed in practice. Tackling this issue becomes critical given the increasingly variety of accidental and malicious faults (attacks) that may impact the behaviour exhibited by ad hoc routing protocols. The main objective of this paper is to deepen in the methodological aspects concerning fault injection in routing protocols. As a result, we will design and implement a framework based on the injection of accidental and malicious faults to quantitatively evaluate their impact on routing protocols. This framework, called REFRAHN (Resilience Evaluation FRamework for Ad Hoc routiNg protocols), can be used to (i) reduce the uncertainty about the sources of perturbations in the deployment of ad hoc routing protocols, (ii) design fault-tolerant mechanisms that address and minimise such problems, and (iii) compare and select which is the routing protocol that optimises the performance and robustness of the network.     

A Secure Agent-based Framework for Internet Trading in Mobile Computing Environments

Most of the current Internet trading frameworks, in particular their negotiation and payment phases, are intended for customers frequently connected to the Internet during an entire transaction. This requirement cannot be easily met in the high communication cost and/or low bandwidth settings, typically found in mobile computing environments. Based on the software agent paradigm, a new secure agent-based framework for Internet trading in mobile computing environments is proposed in this paper. The framework is composed of two new protocols. One is the agent-based auction-like negotiation protocol, another is the agent-based payment protocol. Both of them are dedicated to solve the trade problems of Internet trading in mobile computing environments and ensured to be safe by cryptographic technologies. The combination of the two secure protocols constitutes an integrative solution for Internet trading in mobile computing environments.