Exploring decision processes in multi-agent automated contracting

We are interested in multi-agent contracting, in which customers must solicit the resources and capabilities of other, self-interested agents in order to accomplish their goals. Goals may involve the execution of multi-step plans, in which different steps are contracted out to different suppliers. We have developed a testbed that can generate sets of plans with known statistical attributes, formulate and submit requests for quotations, generate bids with well-defined statistics, and evaluate those bids according to a number of criteria.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2001
• Where: AGENTS
• Authors: John Collins, Maria L. Gini
• Keywords: AGENTS 2001, Multi-agent Contracting, Multi-step Plans, Security Privacy, Self-interested Agents