Electronic multilateral negotiation system

Abstract

A system and method for managing multilateral negotiations are disclosed. The method generally includes sending a negotiation initiating offer object to a first negotiating party for specifying rules of the negotiation and for forming a negotiation initiating offer including specification of at least one attribute. The method also includes receiving the negotiation initiating offer from the first negotiating party, sending a counter offer object to a second negotiating party for forming a counter offer to the first negotiating party, receiving the counter offer from the second negotiating party, validating the counter offer if the counter offer complies with the rules of the negotiation, and sending the validated counter offer to the first negotiation party to engage the negotiation parties in an active negotiation. The counter offer object is adapted for specification of at least one additional attribute. A negotiation facilitator system for managing an electronic negotiation and a computer program product for managing a multilateral negotiation are also disclosed.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . A method of 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.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein facilitating the first active negotiation includes updating a first negotiation object. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein facilitating the second active negotiation includes updating a second negotiation object. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27 , 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.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 27 , 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. 
   
   
       32 . A system for managing a concurrent bilateral negotiation, comprising:
 a processor configured 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; and 
   a memory, coupled to the processor, and configured to provide the processor with instructions.   
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein facilitating the first active negotiation includes updating a first negotiation object. 
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 32  wherein facilitating the second active negotiation includes updating a second negotiation object. 
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the processor is further configured 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.   
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 32 , 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. 
   
   
       37 . A computer program product for managing a concurrent bilateral negotiation, the computer program product being embodied in a tangible computer readable storage 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.   
   
   
       38 . The computer program product of  claim 37  wherein facilitating the first active negotiation includes updating a first negotiation object. 
   
   
       39 . The computer program product of  claim 37  wherein facilitating the second active negotiation includes updating a second negotiation object. 
   
   
       40 . The computer program product of  claim 37 , 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.   
   
   
       41 . The computer program product of  claim 37 , 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.