Abstract: Automated negotiation with multiple sellers in order to buy a quantity of a good or service, can be achieved by determining two or more alternative options for purchasing the quantity; setting a target price for purchasing the quantity and hence target prices for each negotiation required to complete each alternative option; providing the target price for each negotiation to a party carrying out said negotiation; receiving information on the progress of each negotiation, redetermining the target prices and providing redetermined target prices for at least some of the negotiations to the party carrying out that negotiation; and detecting a completion condition and providing information to the party carrying out any negotiation still in progress for terminating that negotiation.

Abstract: A method, implementable with suitable apparatus, for providing automated assistance for negotiation to acquire a quantity of a good or service from a seller comprises receiving a target price for acquiring the quantity; determining an attitude towards the seller, wherein the attitude represents a likelihood of acquiring the quantity for no more than the target price; and providing the attitude for use in a negotiation process. A method, implementable with suitable apparatus, of automatic negotiation to acquire a quantity of a good or service from a seller, comprises receiving a target price for acquiring the quantity and determining at least one rule for making a further offer to the seller based on the target price and on information received in negotiations with that seller.

Abstract: In order to create market data containing information about cross-promotions, first