MAGNET: A Multi-Agent Contracting System for Plan Execution

Proceedings of the Artificial Intelligence and Manufacturing Research Planning Workshop, 1998

Volume

Proceedings of the Artificial Intelligence and Manufacturing Research Planning Workshop, 1998

Contents

We present a system for multi-agent contract negotiation, implemented as a generalized market architecture called MAGNET. MAGNET provides support for a variety of types of transactions, from simple buying and selling of goods and services to complex multi-agent contract negotiations. In the latter case, MAGNET is designed to negotiate contracts based on temporal and precedence constraints, and includes facilities for dealing with time-based contingencies. In contrast with other approaches to multi-agent negotiation, we introduce an explicit intermediary into the negotiation process, which helps in controlling fraud and discouraging counterspeculation.