A Computerized Third Party to Aid Distributed Logistics

The Metron team, consisting of Metron, Inc and its consultant Mr. John Kettelle, proposes to design and develop negotiation mechanisms to aid in distributed logistics planning involving multiple government, military and commercial parties. In particular, under Phase I, we are interested in the design of what we call a Computerized Third Party (CTP), which is a secure, potentially web-based environment into which each party can enter a list of issues subject to negotiation and private value functions and constraints on those issues. The CTP can then determine whether there is “room for a deal” – a set of agreements that would be acceptable to all parties. If so, then the CTP can help guide the negotiation of a final agreement that is acceptable and as beneficial to all parties as possible in terms of sharing the excess “room” found by the system.