Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for selecting a plurality of processing systems to sort a data set. A determination is made of processing systems to perform a sort of records in a data set. The data set is divided into data subsets, each data subset comprising a portion of the records of the data set. Each of the determined processing systems of is notified of a data subset to sort. In response to receiving notification from the determined processing systems that the records in the data subsets have been sorted, the sorted data subsets are merged into a sorted data set comprising the records of the data set sorted.

Abstract: A method for implementing an electronically-based negotiation session between users within an ESN. The method includes sending a message including a request portion and a response portion from a first user to a second user in a round of successive rounds, and in response to receiving the message from the first user, sending a message from the second user to the first user in a subsequent round, the message from the second user including a response portion responsive to the request portion of the message from the first user and a request portion. When a new round is performed, evaluating whether an agreement exists by checking messages previously exchanged, and exchanging subsequent messages, when any rounds remain and the session has not been terminated, and granting access and exchanging data between the users, executing actions, and setting policies as negotiated, when the session has been terminated and an agreement exists.