UML as a Modeling Tool for Developing an

Agent-based Auction System

Arnold Aribowo (Department of Computer Engineering, Pelita Harapan University,

Indonesia)

Maria Indrawan ( CSSE, Monash University, Australia)

Outline

Buying ModelNegotiation TypesUML NotationsUML Activity diagrams for Auction ProtocolConclusion and future works

Buying Model

Product identification Product selection negotiation

Order placement Payment authorization Product delivery

After sales services

prepurchase

Product consummation

Post purchase

Negotiation Types

Distributive Negotiation (win-lose)

One issue is negotiated.

Parties involved have opposing interests.

Agreement does not need to satisfy joint gains for both parties.

Integrative Negotiation (win-win)

Multiple issues are negotiated.

Parties involved have different preferences towards these issues.

Agreement need to satisfy joint gains for both parties.

Integrative vs DistributiveIntegrative Negotiation Distributive Negotiation

Flow of information

Create a free and open flow; share information openly

Conceal information, or use it selectively and strategically

Understanding the other

Attempt to understand what the other side really wants and needs

Make no effort to understand the other side, or use the information to gain strategic advantage

Attention to commonalities and differences

Emphasized common goals, objectives, interests

Emphasize differences in goals, objectives, interests

Focus on solutions

Search for solutions that meet the needs of both (all) sides

Search for solutions that meet own needs or even block the other from meeting their needs

Type of Auctions

English Auctionopen cry auction

Sealed-bid Auctionsingle round or multiple rounds

Dutch Auction

What is Agent?

Dictionary: Latin ‘agans” -> to act the producer of an effect, an active substance, a person

or thing that performs an action, a representative, etc.

Common characteristics: perform some task on our behalf (action) has responsibility access to some of our resources proactive/reactive

Agent-based Auction Systems

There are two roles in Agent based Auction System: Buying Agent. Selling Agent.

These agents needs to interact and exchange information. Pre-defined set of rules during this communication process protocol

UML to Model Agent Protocol in an Auction

SystemUML has been proved to facilitate many software developers to express and exchange the idea about the design and specification of the software systems. The wide acceptance of UML as a modeling tools. The existing elements are sufficient in modelling agent-based auction systems.

UML Activity Diagram Notations (1)

Initial and final states

Action state

Transition

ActionState1

UML Activity Diagram Notations (2)

Decision

Fork and Join

UML Activity Diagram Notations (3)

Swimlanes

Partition1

English Auction

BidderAuctioneer

Describe the item being sold

Define the rules

Specify the type of auction Define Parameter Explain Starting Date and Time

Send Price

Receive Price

Check Price

Send Proposal

Check Proposal

Proposal Price >= Price ?

Increase Price

Closing the bid

Request Payment

Make a payment

Goods Delivered

Announce the winner

Announce the Current Bid

BidderAuctioneer

Describe the item being sold

Define the rules

Specify the type of auction Define Parameter

Explain starting date and time

Send the Initial Price

Receive Price

Check Price

Send Proposal

Check Proposal

Closing Date ?

Closing the bid

Request Payment

Make a payment

Goods Delivered

Announce the winner

Single Round Sealed Bid Auction

Multiple Round Sealed Bid Auction BidderAuctioneer

Describe the item being sold

Define the rules

Specify the type of auction Define Parameter Explain starting date and time

Send the Initial Price

Receive Price

Check Price

Send Proposal

Check Proposal

Closing Date ?

Closing the bid

Request Payment

Make a payment

Goods Delivered

Announce the winner

Include in The current round ?

Announce the current highest bid

Dutch AuctionBidderAuctioneer

Describe the item being sold

Define the rules

Specify the type of auction Define Parameter Explain starting date and time

Send Price

Receive Price

Check Price

Send Proposal

Check Proposal

Proposal Price < Price ?

Decrease Price

Closing the bid

Request Payment

Make a payment

Goods Delivered

Price > Minimum Price

Announce the winner

Announce the Current Bid

Conclusion

UML has the ability on modelling agent interactions.The interactions modelled:

• the flow of messages during the auction process.

• the expected actions in different states of the auctions.

Future works: defining the message format mapping the message into an existing Agent

Communication Languages, such as FIPA ACL.