@Article{zhang05a,
  author =	 {Xiaoqin Zhang and Victor Lesser and Sherief
                  Abdallah},
  title =	 {Efficient Management of Multi-Linked Negotiation
                  Based on a Formalized Model},
  journal =	 {Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems},
  year =	 2005,
  volume =	 10,
  number =	 2,
  abstract =	 {A Multi-linked negotiation problem occurs when an
                  agent needs to negotiate with multiple other agents
                  about different subjects (tasks, conflicts, or
                  resource requirements), and the negotiation over one
                  subject has influence on negotiations over other
                  subjects. The solution of the multi-linked
                  negotiations problem will become increasingly
                  important for the next generation of advanced
                  multi-agent systems. However, most current
                  negotiation research looks only at a single
                  negotiation and thus does not present techniques to
                  manage and reason about multi-linked
                  negotiations. In this paper, we first present a
                  technique based on the use of a partial-order
                  schedule and a measure of the schedule, called
                  flexibility, which enables an agent to reason
                  explicitly about the interactions among multiple
                  negotiations. Next, we introduce a formalized model
                  of the multi-linked negotiation problem. Based on
                  this model, a heuristic search algorithm is
                  developed for finding a near-optimal ordering of
                  negotiation issues and their parameters. Using this
                  algorithm, an agent can evaluate and compare
                  different negotiation approaches and choose the best
                  one. We show how an agent uses this technology to
                  effectively manage interacting negotiation
                  issues. Experimental work is presented which shows
                  the efficiency of this approach.},
  keywords =     {multiagent negotiation},
  doi = 	 {10.1007/s10458-004-6978-6},
  url = 	 {http://jmvidal.cse.sc.edu/library/zhang05a.pdf},
  googleid = 	 {tfj7vaclYiUJ:scholar.google.com/},
  cluster = 	 {2693756929498151093}
}