Title: A multi-agent system for internet middlemen in B2B environment: a case study in agribusiness

Authors: Constantina I. Costopoulou, Maria A. Lambrou, Sotiris T. Karetsos

Addresses: Informatics Laboratory, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens, Greece. ' Department of Shipping Trade and Transport, University of the Aegean, 2A Korai Str., 82100 Chios, Greece. ' Informatics Laboratory, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens, Greece

Abstract: This paper proposes the design of a multi-agent system for internet middlemen of a Virtual Agricultural Market (VAM). The VAM system has been build for B2B transactions in agricultural markets, and provides mechanisms for internet-based trading and distribution. The objective of this paper is to enable market participants to trade agricultural products over internet via software agents. Therefore, the VAM agents are identified and an agribusiness application scenario is described using the Unified Modelling Language (UML). UML diagrams are presented to illustrate the functionality of the system, and the VAM agents in particular, as well as their collaboration patterns.

Keywords: electronic markets; multi-agent systems; MAS; agent-based systems; Unified Modelling Language; UML; virtual agricultural markets; internet middlemen; B2B transactions; agribusiness; e-markets.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASS.2007.019303

International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies, 2007 Vol.1 No.4, pp.398 - 415

Published online: 06 Jul 2008 *

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