Importance

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Abstract

A computer-based method and apparatus for interactive computer-assisted negotiations assists multiple parties involved in complex multiple issue negotiations in reaching an agreement that optimizes both the individual and overall benefit to the parties. Each of the parties to a conflict or dispute to be negotiated enters their preferences concerning each issue of the conflict into a computer system. If desired, each party to the dispute can have a separate computer system so that each party's preference information remains confidential to that party. The preference information includes data on satisfaction functions for each of the issues which defines a party's relative level of satisfaction as a function of a numerical value for the outcome of that issue. Each party may also enter one or more proposed alternative agreements which provide the party with a specified level of satisfaction. Using standard mixed integer linear programming techniques, the preference information is employed to solve an optimization problem in which an alternative agreement, known as the common base if accepted by all parties, is first generated that provides at least the same level of satisfaction to each party that their own proposal provides, while at the same time minimizing the maximum gain and satisfaction achieved by any party between their proposal and the generated alternative agreement. Next, an optimal agreement to the conflict is determined, again using linear programming techniques, by maximizing the minimum gain in satisfaction achieved by each of the parties in going from the common base to the improved alternative. This will, at the same time, maximize the overall benefit to all of the parties. For maximum security of all party's confidential information, a separate computer system located at a neutral site can be connected to each individual party's computer system. In this case, alternatives are generated at the neutral site and transmitted back to each party's own computer system.

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First Claim