From market-driven e-negotiation to market-driven G-negotiation

Although management of resources is essential for realizing a computational grid, providing efficient resource allocation mechanism is a complex undertaking. Since providers and consumers of grid resource may be independent bodies, negotiation among these participants is necessary. This work suggests that market-driven agents (MDAs) are appropriate mechanisms for grid resource negotiation. MDAs are negotiation agents designed with the flexibility of (i) making adjustable amounts of concession taking into consideration market rivalry, outside options, and time preferences and (ii) relaxing trade expectation in the face of intense pressure. This paper argues that MDAs are appropriate tools for grid resource negotiation because they possess desirable properties such as having stable strategies, making prudent compromises and optimizing utilities, adapting to changes in market conditions, and are more likely in successfully reaching consensus.