Abstract: A computer system allows negotiation of a multi-party agreement between a plurality of entities. The computer system comprising a plurality of computer nodes; a computer node being arranged to define negotiation rules between the entities; wherein the computer node is operable for a plurality of entities to bid for one or more of a plurality of roles in the negotiation, in which one entity can constrain the role or roles of another entity for an acceptable negotiation.

Abstract: A method of participating by a purchaser in a plurality of negotiations for purchasable items, where an item may be a good or a service, in order to obtain one of a plurality of alternative collections of complementary purchasable items, comprising maintaining a probabilistic model of said negotiations and making bids or offers to increase the probability of success in negotiations for purchasable items in one of said alternative collections determined from current states of said negotiations and said probabilistic model as providing a largest expectation of value to the purchaser.

Abstract: A computer system for allowing negotiation between a plurality of entities, the computer system comprising a computer network having a plurality of computer nodes; a computer node being arranged to define the negotiation between the entities with a set of negotiation activities; wherein the computer node is operable to implement a plurality of negotiation rule sets, each rule set constraining the negotiation activities to a specific negotiation type, thereby allowing a plurality of negotiation types to be selected by an entity.

Abstract: A diagnostic system (10) for diagnosing the cause of failures of functional tests made on a system under test wherein the system under test comprises a plurality of interacting components and wherein the diagnostic system (10) comprises means (20) for interpreting test results based on the set of operations which are involved in carrying out the tests and which components are exercised by operations.