List of Tables.

Preface.

1 Introduction.

1.1 A paradigm shift.

1.2 Electronic commerce.

1.3 Agents and e-commerce.

1.4 Further reading.

1.5 Exercises and topics for discussion.

2 Software agents.

2.1 Characteristics of agents.

2.2 Agents as intentional systems.

2.3 Making decisions.

2.4 Planning.

2.5 Learning.

2.6 Agent architectures.

2.7 Agents in perspective.

2.8 Methodologies and languages.

2.9 Further reading.

2.10 Exercises and topics for discussion.

3 Multi-agent systems.

3.1 Characteristics of multi-agent systems.

3.2 Interaction.

3.3 Agent communication.

3.4 Ontologies.

3.5 Cooperative problem solving.

3.6 Virtual organisations as multi-agent systems.

3.7 Infrastructure requirements for open multi-agent systems.

3.8 Further reading.

3.9 Exercises and topics for discussion.

4 Shopping Agents.

4.1 Consumer buying behaviour model.

4.2 Comparison shopping.

4.3 Working for the user.

4.4 How shopping agents work.

4.5 Limitations and issues.

4.6 Further reading.

4.7 Exercises and topics for discussion.

5 Middle agents.

5.1 Matching.

5.2 Classification of middle agents.

5.3 Describing capabilities.

5.4 LARKS.

5.5 OWL-S.

5.6 Further reading.

5.7 Exercises and topics for discussion.

6 Recommender systems.

6.1 Information needed.

6.2 Providing recommendations.

6.3 Recommendation technologies.

6.4 Content-based filtering.

6.5 Collaborative filtering.

6.6 Combining content and collaborative filtering.

6.7 Recommender systems in e-commerce.

6.8 A note on personalization.

6.9 Further reading.

6.10 Exercises and topics for discussion.

7 Elements of strategic interaction.

7.1 Elements of Economics.

7.2 Elements of Game Theory.

7.3 Further reading.

7.4 Exercises and topics for discussion.

8 Negotiation I.

8.1 Negotiation protocols.

8.2 Desired properties of negotiation protocols.

8.3 Abstract architecture for negotiating agents.

8.4 Auctions.

8.5 Classification of auctions.

8.6 Basic auction formats.

8.7 Double auctions.

8.8 Multi-attribute auctions.

8.9 Combinatorial auctions.

8.10 Auction platforms.

8.11 Issues in practical auction design.

8.12 Further reading.

8.13 Exercises and topics for discussion.

9 Negotiation II.

9.1 Bargaining.

9.2 Negotiation in different domains.

9.3 Coalitions.

9.4 Applications of coalition formation.

9.5 Social choice problems.

9.6 Argumentation.

9.7 Further reading.

9.8 Exercises and topics for discussion.

10 Mechanism design.

10.1 The mechanism design problem.

10.2 Dominant strategy implementation.

10.3 The Gibbard-Satterthwaite Impossibility Theorem.

10.4 The Groves-Clarke mechanisms.

10.5 Mechanism design and computational issues.

10.6 Further reading.

10.7 Exercises and topics for discussion.

11 Mobile agents.

11.1 Introducing mobility.

11.2 Facilitating mobility.

11.3 Mobile agent systems.

11.4 Aglets.

11.5 Mobile agent security.

11.6 Issues on mobile agents.

11.7 Further reading.

11.8 Exercises and topics for discussion.

12 Trust, security and legal issues.

12.1 Perceived risks.

12.2 Trust.

12.3 Trust in e-commerce.

12.4 Electronic institutions.

12.5 Reputation systems.

12.6 Security.

12.7 Cryptography.

12.8 Privacy, anonymity and agents.

12.9 Agents and the law.

12.10 Agents as legal persons.

12.11 Closing remarks.

12.12 Further reading.

12.13 Exercises and topics for discussion.

A Introduction to decision theory.

A.2 Making decisions.

A.3 Utilities.

A.4 Further reading.

Bibliography.

Index.