An auction-based multi-agent system model with variable use-factor

Agents often need to work together and achieve their common and individual goals under the environment where there are limited or scarce resources. How to allocate these resources efficiently is critical in proceeding of cooperation and competition. Auction-based method is often adopted in the settings. This paper presents an improved mathematically computable model based auction theory by introducing a variable use-factor. In this model, there is a seller agent with multi-item goods to sell while many buyer agents want to buy the goods. By analyzing optional bidding and numerical computing, it is found that the variable use-factor influences obviously the agents’ utility and bidding. This model is beneficial for the future mechanisms design both in agent-based software engineering and various distributed system, especially Internet-based commerce applications.