Electronic multilateral negotiation system

Abstract

Managing a concurrent bilateral negotiation is disclosed. A first active negotiation between a first party and a second party is facilitated. A second active negotiation between the first party and a third party is facilitated. An indication of an acceptable negotiation associated with the first active negotiation is received. A message is sent to the third party to submit a final multi-attribute offer.

1 . A computer program product for managing a concurrent bilateral negotiation, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for: 
 facilitating a first active negotiation between a first party and a second party, wherein facilitating the first active negotiation includes exchanging multi-attribute offers between the first party and the second party;    facilitating a second active negotiation between the first party and a third party, wherein facilitating the second active negotiation includes exchanging multi-attribute offers between the first party and the third party;    receiving an indication of an acceptable negotiation associated with the first active negotiation; and    sending a message to the third party to submit a final multi-attribute offer.    
   
   
       2 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating the first active negotiation includes updating a first negotiation object.  
   
   
       3 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating the second active negotiation includes updating a second negotiation object.  
   
   
       4 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprising computer instructions for: 
 receiving a multi-attribute offer from the third party; and    validating the multi-attribute offer from the third party, wherein validating the multi-attribute offer includes determining whether the multi-attribute offer is greater than an offer associated with the acceptable negotiation between the first party and the second party.    
   
   
       5 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating the second active negotiation includes receiving a retraction of an offer associated with the second active negotiation and retracting the offer associated with the second active negotiation.  
   
   
       6 . A method for managing a concurrent bilateral negotiation, comprising: 
 facilitating a first active negotiation between a first party and a second party, wherein facilitating the first active negotiation includes exchanging multi-attribute offers between the first party and the second party;    facilitating a second active negotiation between the first party and a third party, wherein facilitating the second active negotiation includes exchanging multi-attribute offers between the first party and the third party;    receiving an indication of an acceptable negotiation associated with the first active negotiation; and    sending a message to the third party to submit a final multi-attribute offer.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein facilitating the first active negotiation includes updating a first negotiation object.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein facilitating the second active negotiation includes updating a second negotiation object.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 receiving a multi-attribute offer from the third party; and    validating the multi-attribute offer from the third party, wherein validating the multi-attribute offer includes determining whether the multi-attribute offer is greater than an offer associated with the acceptable negotiation between the first party and the second party.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein facilitating the second active negotiation includes receiving a retraction of an offer associated with the second active negotiation and retracting the offer associated with the second active negotiation.  
   
   
       11 . A system for managing a concurrent bilateral negotiation, the method comprising: 
 a processor; and    a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to: 
 facilitate a first active negotiation between a first party and a second party, wherein facilitating the first active negotiation includes exchanging multi-attribute offers between the first party and the second party;  
 facilitate a second active negotiation between the first party and a third party, wherein facilitating the second active negotiation includes exchanging multi-attribute offers between the first party and the third party;  
 receive an indication of an acceptable negotiation associated with the first active negotiation; and  
 send a message to the third party to submit a final multi-attribute offer.  
   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein facilitating the first active negotiation includes updating a first negotiation object.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein facilitating the second active negotiation includes updating a second negotiation object.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to: 
 receive a multi-attribute offer from the third party; and    validate the multi-attribute offer from the third party, wherein validating the multi-attribute offer includes determining whether the multi-attribute offer is greater than an offer associated with the acceptable negotiation between the first party and the second party.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein facilitating the second active negotiation includes receiving a retraction of an offer associated with the second active negotiation and retracting the offer associated with the second active negotiation.