An Agent-based Framework for the Automation of Contractual Relationships

Salle, Mathias

HP Development Company

关键词: Electronic Contract;    multi agent system;    contractual agents;   

RP-ID  :  HPL-2002-133

学科分类：计算机科学（综合）

美国|英语

来源: HP Labs

【 摘 要 】

In this paper, we present work in progress on the Electronic Contract Framework (ECF), an agent-based framework for the automation of contractual relationships. Electronic contracts are the cornerstone of this framework and contractual agents manipulate these abstractions to specify business relationships and to automate their execution. We first define the concepts and the formalism used to model electronic contracts. Based on the dynamic nature of these concepts, we introduce a collaborative protocol used by contractual agents to synchronize their views on contractual commitments. Lastly, we present the conceptual architecture and the high-level reasoning process of contractual agents. Notes: Copyright American Association for Artificial Intelligence. To be published in and presented at the AAAI-2002 Workshop on Agent-Based Technologies for B2B Electronic Commerce, 28 July 2002, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 6 Pages